EP2247615B1 - Targeted therapeutics based on engineered proteins that bind egfr - Google Patents

Targeted therapeutics based on engineered proteins that bind egfr Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2247615B1
EP2247615B1 EP09709830.5A EP09709830A EP2247615B1 EP 2247615 B1 EP2247615 B1 EP 2247615B1 EP 09709830 A EP09709830 A EP 09709830A EP 2247615 B1 EP2247615 B1 EP 2247615B1
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egfr
polypeptide
domain
binding
loop
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EP2247615A2 (en
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Ray Camphausen
Brent Morse
Stuart Emanuel
David Fabrizio
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Bristol Myers Squibb Co
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Bristol Myers Squibb Co
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/78—Connective tissue peptides, e.g. collagen, elastin, laminin, fibronectin, vitronectin, cold insoluble globulin [CIG]
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
    • A61P35/02—Antineoplastic agents specific for leukemia
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/76—Albumins
    • C07K14/765—Serum albumin, e.g. HSA
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/79—Transferrins, e.g. lactoferrins, ovotransferrins
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
    • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
    • C07K16/28—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants
    • C07K16/2863—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants against receptors for growth factors, growth regulators
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K19/00—Hybrid peptides, i.e. peptides covalently bound to nucleic acids, or non-covalently bound protein-protein complexes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/30—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by aspects of specificity or valency
    • C07K2317/31—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by aspects of specificity or valency multispecific
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2318/00—Antibody mimetics or scaffolds
    • C07K2318/20—Antigen-binding scaffold molecules wherein the scaffold is not an immunoglobulin variable region or antibody mimetics
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
    • C07K2319/30—Non-immunoglobulin-derived peptide or protein having an immunoglobulin constant or Fc region, or a fragment thereof, attached thereto

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to single domain proteins that bind to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).
  • EGFR epidermal growth factor receptor
  • the invention also relates to single domain proteins for use in diagnostic, research and therapeutic applications. Further described herein are cells comprising such proteins, polynucleotide encoding such proteins or fragments thereof, and to vectors comprising the polynucleotides encoding the innovative proteins.
  • the HER family of receptor tyrosine kinases are important mediators of cell growth, differentiation and survival.
  • the receptor family includes four distinct members including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, ErbB1, or HER1), HER2 (ErbB2), HER3 (ErbB3) and HER4 (ErbB4 or tyro2).
  • the HER family has been causally implicated in human malignancy. Abnormal activity of the Her family of receptors is involved with breast cancer. EGFR, Her-3, and Her-4 are frequently expressed in ovarian granulosa cell tumors ( Leibl, S. et al., Gynecol Oncol 101:18-23 (2005 ). In particular, increased expression of EGFR has been observed in breast, bladder, lung, head, neck and stomach cancer as well as glioblastomas.
  • Increased EGFR receptor expression may be associated with increased production of a EGFR ligand, transforming growth factor alpha (TGF- ⁇ ), by the same tumor cells resulting in receptor activation by an autocrine stimulatory pathway.
  • TGF- ⁇ transforming growth factor alpha
  • Monoclonal antibodies directed against the EGFR or its ligands have been evaluated as therapeutic agents in the treatment of such malignancies. See, e.g., Baselga and Mendelsohn., supra; Masui et al. Cancer Research 44:1002-1007 (1984 ); and Wu et al. J. Clin. Invest. 95:1897-1905 (1995 ).
  • HER receptors generally reside in various combinations in cells. Their heterodimerization is thought to increase the diversity of cellular responses to a variety of HER ligands ( Earp et al. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 35: 115-132 (1995 )).
  • EGFR is bound by at least six different ligands; epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor alpha (TGF- ⁇ ), amphiregulin, heparin binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), betacellulin and epiregulin ( Groenen et al. Growth Factors 11:235-257 (1994 )).
  • EGF binds to EGFR, which forms a heterodimer with HER2, activating EGFR and resulting in transphosphorylation of HER. Dimerization and/or transphosphorylation activates the HER2 tyrosine kinase.
  • cetuximab an anti-EGFR antibody
  • Gefitinib Iressa TM
  • erlotinib Tearceva TM
  • Individual patients may be predisposed to particular types of complications that affect the choice of drug treatment. Offering a greater choice of treatment options allows physicians to select the therapeutic with the best side effect profile for an individual patient.
  • the present invention provides novel polypeptides and protein therapeutics useful in methods of treatment.
  • EGFR signaling plays in disorders, including cancer and proliferative disorders
  • therapeutics such as EGFR binding polypeptides, that selectively modulate, inhibit or block EGFR.
  • Such a therapeutic it would be desirable for such a therapeutic to be expressed in a cost effective manner, possess desirable biophysical properties (e.g. Tm, substantially monomeric, or well folded), have a small size to penetrate tissues, and have a suitable half life in vivo.
  • biophysical properties e.g. Tm, substantially monomeric, or well folded
  • Fn3 domain a fibronectin type III (Fn3) domain
  • the Fn3 domain comprises a loop, AB; a loop, BC; a loop, CD; a loop, DE; a loop EF; and a loop FG
  • the Fn3 domain has at least one loop selected from loop BC, DE, and FG with an altered amino acid sequence relative to the sequence of the corresponding loop of the human Fn3 domain
  • EGFR human epidermal growth factor receptor
  • IC 50 inhibits with an IC 50 of less than 10 -5 M EGFR ligand mediated EGFR phosphorylation, ERK phosphorylation or AKT phosphorylation.
  • the polypeptide binds EGFR with a K D of less than 10 -4 M, 10 -5 M, 10 -6 M, 10 -7 M, 10 -8 M, 10 -9 M, or 10 -9 M.
  • at least two loops of the Fn3 domain are altered.
  • loop BC and loop FG have an altered amino acid sequence relative to the sequence of the corresponding loop of the human Fn ,domain.
  • at least three loops of the Fn3 domain are altered.
  • at least two loops of the Fn3 domain bind EGFR.
  • at least three loops of the Fn3 domain bind EGFR.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide binds to a related receptor, such as HER2 or HER3, with a K D of more than 10 -6 M, 10 -5 M, 10 4 M, 10 -3 M, or 10 -2 M.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide inhibits EGFR binding to one or more EGFR ligands. In some embodiments, the EGFR binding polypeptide inhibits EGFR signaling.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide is a tenth fibronectin type III domain ( 10 Fn3).
  • the 10 Fn3 comprises the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 207-231.
  • the 10 Fn3 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 215.
  • the 10 Fn3 comprises the amino acid sequence at least 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 98% identical to any one of SEQ ID NOS: 207-231.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide further comprises one or more pharmacokinetic (PK) moieties selected from: a polyoxyalkylene moiety, a human serum albumin binding protein, sialic acid, human serum albumin, transferrin, IgG, an IgG binding protein, and an Fc fragment.
  • PK pharmacokinetic
  • the PK moiety is the polyoxyalkylene moiety and said polyoxyalkylene moiety is polyethylene glycol (PEG).
  • the PEG moiety is covalently linked to the EGFR binding polypeptide via a Cys or Lys amino acid.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide is a Fn3 domain.
  • the PEG is between about 0.5 kDa and about 100 kDa.
  • the PK moiety improves one or more pharmacokinetic properties of the polypeptides, e.g., bioavailability, serum half-life, in vivo stability, and drug distribution.
  • the PK moiety increases the serum half-life of the EGFR binding polypeptide by at least 20, 30, 40 ,50, 70, 90, 100, 120, 150, 200, 400, 600, 800% or more relative to the EGFR binding polypeptide alone.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide further comprising a PK moiety has a serum in vivo half-life of at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14 days.
  • the PK moiety and the Fn3 domain are operably linked via at least one disulfide bond, a peptide bond, a polypeptide, a polymeric sugar, or a polyethylene glycol moiety. In some embodiments, the PK moiety and the Fn3 domain are operably linked via a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 232-235.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide further comprises a second domain. In some embodiments, the EGFR binding polypeptide further comprises an antibody moiety. In some embodiments, the antibody moiety is less than 50KDa. In some embodiments, the antibody moiety is less than 40KDa. In some embodiments, the antibody moiety is a single chain Fvs (scFvs), Fab fragment, Fab' fragment, F(ab') 2 , disulfide linked Fv (sdFv), Fv, diabody, or whole antibody. In some embodiments, the antibody moiety is a single domain antibody. In some embodiments, the antibody moiety binds a human protein.
  • the antibody moiety binds IGF-IR, FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, FGFR4, c-Kit, human p185 receptor-like tyrosine kinase, HER2, HER3, c-Met, folate receptor, PDGFR, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3, human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A, VEGF C, VEGF D, human CD20, human CD18, human CD11a, human apoptosis receptor-2 (Apo-2), human alpha4beta7 integrin, human GPIIb-IIIa integrin, stem cell factor (SCF), EGFR, or human CD3.
  • VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide further comprises a derivative of lipocalin; a derivative of tetranectin; an avimer; or a derivative of ankyrin. In some embodiments, the EGFR binding polypeptide binds a human protein.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide binds IGF-IR, FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, FGFR4, c-Kit, human p185 receptor-like tyrosine kinase, HER2, HER3, c-Met, folate receptor, PDGFR, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3, human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A, VEGF C, VEGF D, human CD20, human CD18, human CD11a, human apoptosis receptor-2 (Apo-2), human alpha4beta7 integrin, human GPIIb-IIIa integrin, stem cell factor (SCF), EGFR, or human CD3.
  • VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide is a Fn3 domain and further comprises a second Fn3 domain.
  • the second Fn3 domain (i) comprises a loop, AB; a loop, BC; a loop, CD; a loop, DE; and a loop FG; (ii) has at least one loop selected from loop BC, DE, and FG with an altered amino acid sequence relative to the sequence of the corresponding loop of the human Fn3 domain, and (iii) binds a human protein that is not bound by the human Fn3 domain.
  • the second Fn3 domain binds IGF-IR, FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, FGFR4, c-Kit, human p185 receptor-like tyrosine kinase, HER2, HER3, c-Met, folate receptor, PDGFR, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3, human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A, VEGF C, VEGF D, human CD20, human CD18, human CD11a, human apoptosis receptor-2 (Apo-2), human alpha4beta7 integrin, human GPIIb-IIIa integrin, stem cell factor (SCF), EGFR, or human CD3.
  • VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor
  • the second Fn3 domain binds a human protein with a K D of less than 10 -4 M, 10 -5 M, 10 -6 M, 10 -7 M, 10 -8 M, 10 -9 M, or 10 -9 M.
  • at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 amino acids in at least one loop selected from loop BC, DE, and FG of the second Fn3 domaina are substituted with an amino acid that differs from the wild-type sequence.
  • at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 amino acids are deleted or added to at least one loop selected from loop BC, DE, and FG.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide is a 10 Fn3 domain that binds EGFR further comprising a second 10 Fn3 domain.
  • the second 10 Fn3 domain binds IGF-IR.
  • the second 10 Fn3 domain binds VEGFR2.
  • the second 10 Fn3 domain binds EGFR.
  • the second 10 Fn3 domain comprises the amino acid sequence of any of one of SEQ ID NOS: 2-125, 184-204, or 236.
  • the second 10 Fn3 domain comprises the amino acid sequence at least 75, 80, 85, 90, 55, or 98% identical to any of one of SEQ ID NOS: 2-125, 184-204, or 236. In some embodiments, the second 10 Fn3 domain comprises the amino acid sequence of any of one of SEQ ID NOS: 126-183, 205, or 206. In some embodiments, the second 10 Fn3 domain comprises the amino acid sequence at least 75, 80, 85, 90, 55, or 98% identical to any of one of SEQ ID NOS: 126-183, 205, or 206. In some embodiments, the second 10 Fn3 domain comprises the amino acid sequence of any of one of SEQ ID NOS: 207-231. In some embodiments, the second 10 Fn3 domain comprises the amino acid sequence at least 75, 80, 85, 90, 55, or 98% identical to any of one of SEQ ID NOS: 207-231.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide further comprises a second domain operably linked via at least one disulfide bond, a peptide bond, a polypeptide, a polymeric sugar, or a polyethylene glycol moiety (PEG).
  • the PEG is between about 0.5 kDa and about 100 kDa.
  • the PEG is conjugated to the polypeptide and the second domain via a Cys or Lys residue.
  • at least the EGFR binding polypeptide or the second domain has no more than a single Cys or Lys.
  • the single Cys or Lys is located in a non-wildtype location in the amino acid sequence.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO: 235.
  • the application provides an EGFR binding polypeptide that inhibits the binding of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) to EGFR and does not activate human EGFR at sub IC 50 concentrations in a cell-based assay.
  • TGF-alpha transforming growth factor alpha
  • EGF epidermal growth factor
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide inhibits EGFR binding to one or more EGFR ligands.
  • the application provides an EGFR binding polypeptide that polypeptide competes with an anti-EGFR antibody for binding to EGFR.
  • the anti-EGFR antibody is selected from panitumumab, nimotuzumab, zalutumumab, EMD72000, and cetuximab.
  • the application provides an EGFR binding polypeptide that inhibits total EGF-stimulated phosphotyrosine activation of EGFR with an IC 50 of less than 10 -5 , 10 -6 , 10 -7 , 10 -8 , or 10 -9 M.
  • the application provides an EGFR binding polypeptide that inhibits ERK phosphorylation with an IC 50 of less than 10 -5 , 10 -6 , 10 -7 , 10 -8 , or 10 -9 M.
  • the application provides an EGFR binding polypeptide that inhibits AKT phosphorylation with an IC 50 of less than 10 -5 , 10 -6 , 10 -7 , 10 -8 , or 10 -9 M.
  • the application provides an EGFR binding polypeptide that induces apoptosis in a cell based assay in a cell line dependent on EGFR activation.
  • EGFR binders block EGFR activities such as control of apoptosis, phosphorylation or dimerization.
  • the application provides an EGFR binding polypeptide that has been deimmunized to remove one or more T-cell epitopes. In one aspect, the application provides an EGFR binding polypeptide that has been deimmunized to remove one or more B-cell epitopes.
  • the application provides an EGFR binding Fn3 domain selected by the method comprising a) producing a population of candidate nucleic acid molecules, each comprising a candidate fibronectin type III (Fn3) domain sequence which differs from human Fn3 domain coding sequence, said nucleic acid molecules each comprising a translation initiation sequence and a start codon operably linked to said candidate Fn3 domain coding sequence and each being operably linked to a nucleic acid-puromycin linker at the 3' end; b) in vitro translating said candidate Fn3 domain coding sequences to produce a population of candidate nucleic acid-Fn3 fusions; c) contacting said population of candidate nucleic acid-Fn3 fusions with EGFR; and d) selecting a nucleic acid-Fn3 fusion, the protein portion of which has a binding affinity or specificity for EGFR that is altered relative to the binding affinity or specificity of said human Fn3 for EGFR.
  • Fn3 domain selected by the method comprising
  • the selected nucleic acid-Fn3 fusion is further optimized by altering one or more nucleic acid residues and rescreening the fusion with EGFR to select for improved binders.
  • the candidate nucleic acid molecule is RNA.
  • the candidate nucleic acid molecule is DNA.
  • the nucleic acid-puromycin is DNA-puromycin.
  • the Fn3 domain is 10 Fn3.
  • compositions comprising an EGFR binding polypeptide.
  • the composition can be essentially endotoxin free.
  • the compositions can be substantially free of microbial contamination making it suitable for in vivo administration.
  • the composition may be formulated, for example, for IV, IP or subcutaneous administration.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide may inhibit EGFR binding to one or more EGFR ligands.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide may inhibit EGFR signaling.
  • the application further describes methods for the treatment of a subject having a cancer by administering an EGFR binding polypeptide, either alone or in combination with other cytotoxic or therapeutic agents.
  • the cancer can be one or more of, for example, breast cancer, colon cancer, ovarian carcinoma, osteosarcoma, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, synovial carcinoma, glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer, or other cancer yet to be determined in which EGFR levels are elevated, up-regulated, mutated or altered in physiology compared to non-oncogenic cells.
  • cytotoxic and therapeutic agents include docetaxel, paclitaxel, doxorubicin, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, trastuzumab, capecitabine, tamoxifen, toremifene, letrozole, anastrozole, fulvestrant, exemestane, goserelin, oxaliplatin, carboplatin, cisplatin, dexamethasone, antide, bevacizumab, 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, levamisole, irinotecan, etoposide, topotecan, gemcitabine, vinorelbine, estramustine, mitoxantrone, abarelix, zoledronate, streptozocin, rituximab
  • kits comprising one or more of the elements described herein, and instructions for the use of those elements.
  • kit may include an EGFR binding polypeptide, alone or with a second therapeutic agent.
  • the application also describes a cell, comprising a polynucleotide encoding an EGFR binding polypeptide.
  • Vectors containing polynucleotides for such proteins are described as well. Sequences are preferably optimized to maximize expression in the cell type used. Preferably, expression is in E. coli.
  • EGFR binding polypeptides can also be expressed, for example, in eukaryotic microbes, including yeast (e.g., pichia or cervaisea) or blue green algae.
  • Yeast cells can be engineered to produce desired glycosylations.
  • the cell described herein can be a mammalian cell.
  • the mammalian cell can be engineered to produce desired glycosylations.
  • the cell can be a cell expressing a fibronectin based scaffold protein.
  • the polynucleotides encoding fibronectin based scaffold proteins are codon optimized for expression in the selected cell type.
  • polypeptide By a “polypeptide” is meant any sequence of two or more amino acids, regardless of length, post-translation modification, or function. "Polypeptide,” “peptide,” and “protein” are used interchangeably herein. Polypeptides can include natural amino acids and non-natural amino acids such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 6,559,126 .
  • Polypeptides can also be modified in any of a variety of standard chemical ways (e.g., an amino acid can be modified with a protecting group; the carboxy-terminal amino acid can be made into a terminal amide group; the amino-terminal residue can be modified with groups to, e.g., enhance lipophilicity; or the polypeptide can be chemically glycosylated or otherwise modified to increase stability or in vivo half-life).
  • Polypeptide modifications can include the attachment of another structure such as a cyclic compound or other molecule to the polypeptide and can also include polypeptides that contain one or more amino acids in an altered configuration (i.e., R or S; or, L or D).
  • single domain polypeptide is used to indicate that the target binding activity (e.g., EGFR binding activity) of the subject polypeptide is situated within a single structural domain, as differentiated from, for example, antibodies and single chain antibodies, where antigen binding activity is generally contributed by both a heavy chain variable domain and a light chain variable domain.
  • a single domain polypeptide may be attached (e.g., as a fusion protein) to any number of other polypeptides, such as fluorescent polypeptides, targeting polypeptides and polypeptides having a distinct therapeutic effect.
  • PK is an acronym for "pharmokinetic” and encompasses properties of a compound including, by way of example, absorbtion, distribution, metabolism, and elimination by a subject.
  • a "PK modulation protein” or “PK moiety” refers to any protein, peptide, or moiety that affects the pharmokinetic properties of a biologically active molecule when fused to or administered together with the biologically active molecule. Examples of a PK modulation protein or PK moiety include PEG, human serum albumin (HSA) binders (as disclosed in U.S. Publication Nos. 20050287153 and 20070003549 ), human serum albumin, Fc or Fc fragments, and sugars (e.g., sialic acid).
  • HSA human serum albumin
  • a “functional Fc region” possesses at least one "effector function” of a native sequence Fc region.
  • effector functions include Clq binding; complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC); Fc receptor binding; antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC); phagocytosis; down regulation of cell surface receptors (e.g., B cell receptor; BCR), etc.
  • Such effector functions generally require the Fc region to be combined with a binding domain (e.g., an antibody variable domain) and can be assessed using various assays known in the art for evaluating such antibody effector functions.
  • a “native sequence Fc region” comprises an amino acid sequence identical to the amino acid sequence of an Fc region found in nature.
  • a “variant Fc region” comprises an amino acid sequence which differs from that of a native sequence Fc region by virtue of at least one amino acid modification.
  • the variant Fc region has at least one amino acid substitution compared to a native sequence Fc region or to the Fc region of a parent polypeptide, e.g., from about one to about ten amino acid substitutions, and preferably from about one to about five amino acid substitutions in a native sequence Fc region or in the Fc region of the parent polypeptide.
  • the variant Fc region herein will preferably possess at least about 80% sequence identity with a native sequence Fc region and/or with an Fc region of a parent polypeptide, and most preferably at least about 90% sequence identity therewith, more preferably at least about 95% sequence identity therewith.
  • Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and “ADCC” refer to a cell-mediated reaction in which nonspecific cytotoxic cells that express Fc receptors (FcRs) (e.g., Natural Killer (NK) cells, neutrophils, and macrophages) recognize bound antibody on a target cell and subsequently cause lysis of the target cell.
  • FcRs Fc receptors
  • the primary cells for mediating ADCC NK cells, express Fc ⁇ RIII only, whereas monocytes express Fc ⁇ RI, Fc ⁇ RII and Fc ⁇ RIII.
  • an in vitro ADCC assay such as that described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,500,362 or 5,821,337 may be performed.
  • PBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cells
  • NK Natural Killer
  • ADCC activity of the molecule of interest may be assessed in vivo, e.g., in a animal model such as that disclosed in Clynes et al. PNAS (USA) 95:652-656 (1998 ).
  • Percent (%) amino acid sequence identity herein is defined as the percentage of amino acid residues in a candidate sequence that are identical with the amino acid residues in a selected sequence, after aligning the sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achieve the maximum percent sequence identity, and not considering any conservative substitutions as part of the sequence identity. Alignment for purposes of determining percent amino acid sequence identity can be achieved in various ways that are within the skill in the art, for instance, using publicly available computer software such as BLAST, BLAST-2, ALIGN, ALIGN-2 or Megalign (DNASTAR) software. Those skilled in the art can determine appropriate parameters for measuring alignment, including any algorithms needed to achieve maximal alignment over the full-length of the sequences being compared.
  • % amino acid sequence identity values are obtained as described below by using the sequence comparison computer program ALIGN-2.
  • the ALIGN-2 sequence comparison computer program was authored by Genentech, Inc. has been filed with user documentation in the U.S. Copyright Office, Washington D.C., 20559, where it is registered under U.S. Copyright Registration No. TXU510087, and is publicly available through Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, Calif.
  • the ALIGN-2 program should be compiled for use on a UNIX operating system, preferably digital UNIX V4.0D. All sequence comparison parameters are set by the ALIGN-2 program and do not vary.
  • the % amino acid sequence identity of a given amino acid sequence A to, with, or against a given amino acid sequence B is calculated as follows: 100 times the fraction X/Y where X is the number of amino acid residues scored as identical matches by the sequence alignment program ALIGN-2 in that program's alignment of A and B, and where Y is the total number of amino acid residues in B. It will be appreciated that where the length of amino acid sequence A is not equal to the length of amino acid sequence B, the % amino acid sequence identity of A to B will not equal the % amino acid sequence identity of B to A.
  • an "isolated" polypeptide is one that has been identified and separated and/or recovered from a component of its natural environment. Contaminant components of its natural environment are materials that would interfere with diagnostic or therapeutic uses for the polypeptide, and may include enzymes, hormones, and other proteinaceous or nonproteinaceous solutes.
  • the polypeptide will be purified (1) to greater than 95% by weight of polypeptide as determined by the Lowry method, and most preferably more than 99% by weight, (2) to a degree sufficient to obtain at least 15 residues of N-terminal or internal amino acid sequence by use of a spinning cup sequenator, or (3) to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE under reducing or nonreducing conditions using Coomassie blue or, preferably, silver stain.
  • Isolated polypeptide includes the polypeptide in situ within recombinant cells since at least one component of the polypeptide's natural environment will not be present. Ordinarily, however, isolated polypeptide will be prepared by at least one purification step.
  • Targets may also be fragments of said targets.
  • a target is also a fragment of said target, capable of eliciting an immune response.
  • a target is also a fragment of said target, capable of binding to a single domain antibody raised against the full length target.
  • a fragment as used herein refers to less than 100% of the sequence (e.g., 99%, 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10% etc.), but comprising 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or more amino acids.
  • a fragment is of sufficient length such that the interaction of interest is maintained with affinity of 1x10 -6 M or better.
  • a fragment as used herein also refers to optional insertions, deletions and substitutions of one or more amino acids which do not substantially alter the ability of the target to bind to a single domain antibody raised against the wild-type target.
  • the number of amino acid insertions deletions or substitutions is preferably up to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 l, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, S0, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69 or 70 amino acids.
  • a protein of the invention that "induces cell death” is one which causes a viable cell to become nonviable.
  • the cell is generally one which expresses the antigen to which the protein binds, especially where the cell overexpresses the antigen.
  • the cell is a cancer cell, e.g., a breast, ovarian, stomach, endometrial, salivary gland, lung, kidney, colon, thyroid, pancreatic or bladder cell.
  • the cell may be, for example, a SKBR3, BT474, Calu 3, MDA-MB453, MDA-MB-361 or SKOV3 cell.
  • Cell death in vitro may be detennined in the absence of complement and immune effector cells to distinguish cell death induced by antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) or complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC).
  • ADCC antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity
  • CDC complement dependent cytotoxicity
  • the assay for cell death may be performed using heat inactivated serum (i.e., in the absence of complement) and in the absence of immune effector cells.
  • PI propidium iodide
  • trypan blue see Moore et al. Cytotechnology 17:1-11 (1995 )
  • 7AAD can be assessed relative to untreated cells.
  • a protein of the invention that "induces apoptosis” is one that induces programmed cell death as determined by binding of apoptosis related molecules or events, such as annexin V, fragmentation of DNA, cell shrinkage, dilation of endoplasmic reticulum, cell fragmentation, and/or formation of membrane vesicles (called apoptotic bodies).
  • the cell is one which expresses the antigen to which the protein binds and may be one which overexpresses the antigen.
  • the cell may be a tumor cell, e.g. a breast, ovarian, stomach, endometrial, salivary gland, lung, kidney, colon, thyroid, pancreatic or bladder cell.
  • the cell may be, for example, SKBR3, BT474, Calu 3 cell, MDA-MB453, MDA-MB-361 or SKOV3 cell.
  • Various methods are available for evaluating the cellular events associated with apoptosis. For example, phosphatidyl serine (PS) translocation can be measured by annexin binding; DNA fragmentation can be evaluated through DNA laddering as disclosed in the example herein; and nuclear/chromatin condensation along with DNA fragmentation can be evaluated by any increase in hypodiploid cells.
  • PS phosphatidyl serine
  • the protein that induces apoptosis is one which results in about 2 to 50 fold, preferably about 5 to 50 fold, and most preferably about 10 to 50 fold, induction of annexin binding relative to untreated cell in an annexin binding assay using cells expressing the antigen to which the protein of the invention binds.
  • the term "therapeutically effective amount” refers to an amount of a drug effective to treat a disease or disorder in a mammal.
  • the therapeutically effective amount of the drug may reduce the number of cancer cells; reduce the tumor size; inhibit (i.e., slow to some extent and preferably stop) cancer cell infiltration into peripheral organs; inhibit (i.e., slow to some extent and preferably stop) tumor metastasis; inhibit, to some extent, tumor growth; and/or relieve to some extent one or more of the symptoms associated with the disorder.
  • the drug may prevent growth and/or kill existing cancer cells, it may be cytostatic and/or cytotoxic.
  • efficacy in vivo can, for example, be measured by assessing the time to disease progression (TTP) and/or determining the response rates (RR).
  • the half-life of an amino acid sequence or compound can generally be defined as the time taken for the serum concentration of the polypeptide to be reduced by 50%, in vivo, for example due to degradation of the sequence or compound and/or clearance or sequestration of the sequence or compound by natural mechanisms.
  • the half-life can be determined in any manner known per se, such as by pharmacokinetic analysis.
  • Suitable techniques will be clear to the person skilled in the art, and may for example generally involve the steps of suitably administering to the primate a suitable dose of the amino acid sequence or compound to be treated; collecting blood samples or other samples from said primate at regular intervals; determining the level or concentration of the amino acid sequence or compound of the invention in said blood sample; and calculating, from (a plot of) the data thus obtained, the time until the level or concentration of the amino acid sequence or compound of the invention has been reduced by 50% compared to the initial level upon dosing.
  • Half-life can be expressed using parameters such as the t1/2-alpha, t1/2-beta and the area under the curve (AUC).
  • an “increase in half-life” refers to an increase in any one of these parameters, such as any two of these parameters, or essentially all three these parameters.
  • An “increase in half-life” in particular refers to an increase in the t1/2-beta, either with or without an increase in the t1/2-alpha and/or the AUC or both.
  • EGFR used herein is equivalent to the term HER-1.
  • EGFR ligand or EGFR ligands refers to one or more of the EGFR ligands, such as naturally occurring proteins that bind EGFR.
  • HER is used herein to refer to members of the Her family of receptors including EGFR, Her-2, Her-3, and Her-4.
  • the Her family member used in the invention is EGFR.
  • the application provides single domain polypeptides that bind EGFR.
  • a single domain polypeptide may comprise at least five to seven beta or beta-like strands distributed among at least two beta sheets, as exemplified by immunoglobulin and immunoglobulin-like domains.
  • a beta-like strand is a string of amino acids that participates in the stabilization of a single domain polypeptide but does not necessarily adopt a beta strand conformation.
  • a single domain polypeptide may comprise between about 80 and about 150 amino acids that have a structural organization comprising: at least seven beta strands or beta-like strands distributed between at least two beta sheets, and at least one loop portion connecting two beta strands or beta-like strands, which loop portion participates in binding to EGFR.
  • a loop portion may link two beta strands, two beta-like strands or one beta strand and one beta-like strand.
  • one or more of the loop portions will participate in EGFR binding, although it is possible that one or more of the beta or beta-like strand portions will also participate in EGFR binding, particularly those beta or beta-like strand portions that are situated closest to the loop portions.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide inhibits EGFR binding to one or more EGFR ligands.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide inhibits EGFR signaling.
  • the single domain polypeptide comprises an immunoglobulin (Ig) variable domain.
  • the Ig variable domain may, for example, be selected from the group consisting of: a human V L domain, a human V H domain and a camelid V HH domain.
  • One, two, three or more loops of the Ig variable domain may participate in binding to EGFR, and typically any of the loops known as CDR1, CDR2 or CDR3 will participate in EGFR binding.
  • the single domain polypeptide is a fibronectin based scaffold protein, i.e., a polypeptide based on a fibronectin type III domain (Fn3).
  • fibronectin-based scaffold proteins are Adnectins TM (Adnexus, a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company).
  • Fibronectin is a large protein which plays essential roles in the formation of extracellular matrix and cell-cell interactions; it consists of many repeats of three types (types I, II, and III) of small domains (Baron et al., 1991).
  • Fn3 itself is the paradigm of a large subfamily which includes portions of cell adhesion molecules, cell surface hormone and cytokine receptors, chaperoning, and carbohydrate-binding domains.
  • Fn3 itself is the paradigm of a large subfamily which includes portions of cell adhesion molecules, cell surface hormone and cytokine receptors, chaperoning, and carbohydrate-binding domains.
  • the application provides fibronectin type III (Fn3) domains that bind EGFR.
  • Such domains may comprise, in order from N-terminus to C-terminus, a beta or beta-like strand, A; a loop, AB; a beta or beta-like strand, B; a loop, BC; a beta or beta-like strand C; a loop CD; a beta or beta-like strand D; a loop DE; a beta or beta-like strand, E; a loop, EF; a beta or beta-like strand F; a loop FG; and a beta or beta-like strand G.
  • Any or all of loops AB, BC, CD, DE, EF and FG may participate in EGFR binding.
  • loops BC and FG participate in EGFR binding.
  • loops BC, DE and FG participate in EGFR binding.
  • the disclosure provides Fn3 domains having at least one loop selected from loop BC, DE, and FG with an altered amino acid sequence relative to the sequence of the corresponding loop of the human Fn3 domain.
  • altered is meant one or more amino acid sequence alterations relative to a template sequence (corresponding human fibronectin domain) and includes amino acid additions, deletions, and substitutions. Altering an amino acid sequence may be accomplished through intentional, blind, or spontaneous sequence variation, generally of a nucleic acid coding sequence, and may occur by any technique, for example, PCR, error-prone PCR, or chemical DNA synthesis.
  • the EGFR binding Fn3 domain inhibits EGFR binding to one or more EGFR ligands.
  • the EGFR binding Fn3 inhibits EGFR signaling.
  • the Fn3 domain is an Fn3 domain derived from human fibronectin, particularly the tenth Fn3 domain of fibronectin ( 10 Fn3), as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.
  • 10 Fn3 tenth Fn3 domain of fibronectin
  • SEQ ID NO: 1 SEQ ID NO: 1.
  • a variety of mutant 10 Fn3 scaffolds have been reported.
  • one or more of Asp 7, Glu 9, and Asp 23 is replaced by another amino acid, such as, for example, a non-negatively charged amino acid residue (e.g., Asn, Lys, etc.).
  • a non-negatively charged amino acid residue e.g., Asn, Lys, etc.
  • Both variant and wild-type 10 Fn3 proteins are characterized by the same structure, namely seven beta-strand domain sequences designated A through G and six loop regions (AB loop, BC loop, CD loop, DE loop, EF loop, and FG loop) which connect the seven beta-strand domain sequences.
  • the beta strands positioned closest to the N- and C-termini may adopt a beta-like conformation in solution.
  • the AB loop corresponds to residues 15-16
  • the BC loop corresponds to residues 22-30
  • the CD loop corresponds to residues 39-45
  • the DE loop corresponds to residues 51-55
  • the EF loop corresponds to residues 60-66
  • the FG loop corresponds to residues 76-87.
  • an EGFR binding 10 Fn3 polypeptide may be at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, or 90% identical to the human 10 Fn3 domain, shown in SEQ ID NO:1. Much of the variability will generally occur in one or more of the loops.
  • Each of the beta or beta-like strands of a 10 Fn3 polypeptide may consist essentially of an amino acid sequence that is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100% identical to the sequence of a corresponding beta or beta-like strand of SEQ ID NO: 1, provided that such variation does not disrupt the stability of the polypeptide in physiological conditions.
  • the disclosure provides EGFR binding polypeptides comprising a tenth fibronectin type III ( 10 Fn3) domain, wherein the 10 Fn3 domain comprises a loop, AB; a loop, BC; a loop, CD; a loop, DE; a loop EF; and a loop FG; and has at least one loop selected from loop BC, DE, and FG with an altered amino acid sequence relative to the sequence of the corresponding loop of the human 10 Fn3 domain.
  • altered is meant one or more amino acid sequence alterations relative to a template sequence (corresponding human fibronectin domain) and includes amino acid additions, deletions, and substitutions. Altering an amino acid sequence may be accomplished through intentional, blind, or spontaneous sequence variation, generally of a nucleic acid coding sequence, and may occur by any technique, for example, PCR, error-prone PCR, or chemical DNA synthesis.
  • one or more loops selected from BC, DE, and FG may be extended or shortened in length relative to the corresponding human fibronectin loop.
  • the length of the loop may be extended by from 2-25 amino acids.
  • the length of the loop may be decreased by 1-11 amino acids.
  • the FG loop of 10 Fn3 is 12 residues long, whereas the corresponding loop in antibody heavy chains ranges from 4-28 residues. To optimize antigen binding, therefore, the length of the FG loop of 10 Fn3 may be altered in length as well as in sequence to cover the CDR3 range of 4-28 residues to obtain the greatest possible flexibility and affinity in antigen binding.
  • the integrin-binding motif "arginine-glycine-aspartic acid” may be replaced by a polar amino acid-neutral amino acid-acidic amino acid sequence (in the N-terminal to C-terminal direction).
  • the polypeptide comprising a 10 Fn3 domain comprises the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 207-231. Additional sequences may be added to the N- or C-terminus. For example, an additional MG sequence may be placed at the N-terminus. The M will usually be cleaved off, leaving a GVS... sequence at the N-terminus. In some embodiments, linker sequences may be placed at the C-terminus of the 10 Fn3 domain, e.g., SEQ ID NOS: 233 and 235.
  • the disclosure provides short peptide sequences that mediate EGFR binding.
  • Such sequences may mediate EGFR binding in an isolated form or when inserted into a particular protein structure, such as an immunoglobulin or immunoglobulin-like domain. Examples of such sequences include the amino acid residues that correspond to the BC, DE, and FG loops from SEQ ID NOS: 207-231.
  • the peptides bind to EGFR with a K D of less than 10 6 M, 10 -7 M, 10 -8 M, 10 -9 M, 10 -9 M or less.
  • Polypeptide binding to EGFR may be assessed in terms of equilibrium constants (e.g., dissociation, K D ) and in terms of kinetic constants (e.g., on rate constant, k on and off rate constant, k off ).
  • K D dissociation
  • kinetic constants e.g., on rate constant, k on and off rate constant, k off
  • a single domain polypeptide will typically be selected to bind to EGFR with a K D of less than 10 -6 M, 10 -7 M, 10 -8 M, 10 -9 M, 10 9 M or less, although higher K D values may be tolerated where the k off is sufficiently low or the k on is sufficiently high.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide binds to a related receptor, such as HER2 or HER3, with a K D of more than 10 -6 M, 10 -5 M, 10 -4 M, 10 -3 M, 10 -2 M or greater.
  • the application provides for EGFR binding polypeptides further comprising a pharmacokinetic (PK) moiety.
  • PK pharmacokinetic
  • Improved pharmacokinetics may be assessed according to the perceived therapeutic need. Often it is desirable to increase bioavailability and/or increase the time between doses, possibly by increasing the time that a protein remains available in the serum after dosing. In some instances, it is desirable to improve the continuity of the serum concentration of the protein over time (e.g., decrease the difference in serum concentration of the protein shortly after administration and shortly before the next administration).
  • the EGFR binding polypeptides may be attached to a moiety that reduces the clearance rate of the polypeptide in a mammal (e.g., mouse, rat, or human) by greater than three-fold relative to the unmodified polypeptide.
  • a mammal e.g., mouse, rat, or human
  • Other measures of improved pharmacokinetics may include serum half-life, which is often divided into an alpha phase and a beta phase. Either or both phases may be improved significantly by addition of an appropriate moiety.
  • Moieties that tend to slow clearance of a protein from the blood include polyoxyalkylene moieties, e.g., polyethylene glycol, sugars (e.g., sialic acid), and well-tolerated protein moieties (e.g., Fc, Fc fragments, transferrin, or serum albumin).
  • the EGFR binding polypeptides may be fused to albumin or a fragment (portion) or variant of albumin as described in U.S. Publication No. 20070048282 .
  • the PK moiety is a serum albumin binding protein such as those described in U.S. Publication Nos. 2007/0178082 and 2007/0269422 .
  • the PK moiety is a serum immunoglobulin binding protein such as those described in U.S. Publication No. 2007/0178082 .
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide comprises polethylene glycol (PEG).
  • PEG polethylene glycol
  • One or more PEG molecules may be attached at different positions on the protein, and such attachment may be achieved by reaction with amines, thiols or other suitable reactive groups.
  • the amine moiety may be, for example, a primary amine found at the N-terminus of a polypeptide or an amine group present in an amino acid, such as lysine or arginine.
  • the PEG moiety is attached at a position on the polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: a) the N-terminus; b) between the N-terminus and the most N-terminal beta strand or beta-like strand; c) a loop positioned on a face of the polypeptide opposite the EGFR-binding site; d) between the C-terminus and the most C-terminal beta strand or beta-like strand; and e) at the C-terminus.
  • Pegylation may be achieved by site-directed pegylation, wherein a suitable reactive group is introduced into the protein to create a site where pegylation preferentially occurs.
  • the protein is modified to introduce a cysteine residue at a desired position, permitting site directed pegylation on the cysteine.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide comprises a Cys containing linker such as SEQ ID NO: 235, which permits site directed pegylation.
  • PEG may vary widely in molecular weight and may be branched or linear.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide comprises a Fn3 domain and a PK moiety.
  • the Fn3 domain is a 10 Fn3 domain.
  • the PK moiety increases the serum half-life of the EGFR binding polypeptide by more than 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 150, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000% or more relative to the Fn3 domain alone.
  • the PK moiety is operably linked to the Fn3 domain via at least one disulfide bond, a peptide bond, a polypeptide, a polymeric sugar, or a polyethylene glycol moiety.
  • exemplary polypeptide linkers include PSTSTST (SEQ ID NO: 232), EIDKPSQ (SEQ ID NO: 233), and GS linkers, such as GSGSGSGSGS (SEQ ID NO: 234) and multimers thereof.
  • the PK moiety is human serum albumin.
  • the PK moiety is transferrin.
  • the disclosure provides EGFR binding polypeptides that bind to EGFR from a first mammal and to a homolog thereof from a second mammal.
  • Such polypeptides are particularly useful where the first mammal is a human and the second mammal is a desirable mammal in which to conduct preclinical testing, such as a mouse, rat, guinea pig, dog, or non-human primate.
  • an EGFR binding polypeptide will bind to both the preselected human target protein and to the homolog thereof with a K D of less than 10 -6 M, 10 7 M, 10 -8 M, 10 -9 M, 10 -9 M or less.
  • EGFR binding polypeptides may bind to any part of EGFR. In some embodiments, the polypeptides bind to an extracellular domain of a EGFR. In some embodiments, the polypeptides bind to the ligand binding domain of EGFR and disrupt the interaction of EGFR with one or more ligands, including TGF-alpha and EGF. In some embodiments, EGFR binding polypeptides compete with an anti-EGFR antibody for binding to EGFR.
  • the anti-EGFR antibody may be selected from any known anti-EGFR antibody including panitumumab (Amgen), nimotuzumab (YM Biosciences), zalutumumab (Genmab), EMD72000 (Merck KGaA), and cetuximab (ImClone Systems)
  • the polypeptides bind to EGFR and disrupt receptor dimerization. In some embodiments, the EGFR binding polypeptide inhibits EGFR signaling.
  • polypeptide binding to EGFR does not activate EGFR at sub-IC 50 concentrations in cell-based assays.
  • EGFR binding polypeptides inhibit downstream signaling of EGFR.
  • EGFR ligand binding leads to homo- or heterodimeric receptor dimerization with EGFR or another HER family member. Dimerization promotes receptor autophosphorylation, which in turn leads to the activation of several signaling pathways.
  • One pathway which is activated is the MAPK pathway, including the phosphorylation of MEK.
  • Another activated pathway is the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, including phosphorylation of AKT. Signaling is transduced to the nucleus, resulting in the activation of various transcription factors.
  • PI3K phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase
  • EGFR binding polypeptides inhibit EGFR ligand mediated- EGFR phosphorylation, ERK phosphorylation, AKT phosphorylation, or any other EGFR signaling pathway member with an IC 50 of less than 10 -5 , 10 -6 , 10 -7 , 10 -8 , or 10 -9 M..
  • the second domain may bind EGFR or a different protein, preferably a human protein.
  • the second domain binds a target selected from FGFR, FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, FGFR4, FGFR5, c-Kit, human p185 receptor-like tyrosine kinase, EGFR, HER2, HER3, HER4, c-Met, folate receptor, PDGFR, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3, human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, human CD20, human CD18, human CD11a, human apoptosis receptor-2 (Apo-2), human alpha4beta7 integrin, human GPIIb-IIIa integrin, stem cell factor (SCF), human CD3, IGF-IR, Ang1, Ang2, fibroblast growth factor,
  • SCF stem cell factor
  • the second domain binds a human target protein with a K D of less than 10 -6 M, 10 -7 M, 10 -8 M, 10 -9 M, or 10 -9 M. In some embodiments, the second domain binds an protein related to the target protein with a K D of more than 10 -6 M, 10 -5 M, 10 -4 M, 10 -3 M, 10 -2 M or greater. In some embodiments, the second domain inhibits the binding target.
  • an EGFR binding polypeptide further comprising a second domain that binds a tumor associated target or antigen.
  • antigen targeting will help localize the EGFR binding polypeptide in terms of tissue distribution or increased local concentration affect either in the tissue or desired cell type.
  • the second domain may provide an additional mechanism of action to combat cancer along with the EGFR binding polypeptide.
  • the second domain binds a tumor associated target or antigen, such as, for example, carbonic anhydrase IX, A3, antigen specific for A33 antibody, BrE3-antigen, CD1, CD1a, CD3, CD5, CD15, CD16, CD19, CD20, CD21, CD22, CD23, CD25, CD30, CD45, CD74, CD79a, CD80, HLA-DR, NCA 95, NCA90, HCG and its subunits, CEA (CEACAM-5), CEACAM-6, CSAp, EGFR, EGP-1, EGP-2, Ep-CAM, Ba 733, HER2/neu, hypoxia inducible factor (HIF), KC4-antigen, KS-1-antigen, KS1-4, Le-Y, macrophage inhibition factor (MIF), MAGE, MUC1, MUC2, MUC3, MUC4, PAM-4-antigen, PSA, PSMA, RS5, S100, TAG-72, p53, tenasc
  • tumor associated antigens include Mizukami et al., (2005, Nature Med. 11:992-97 ); Hatfield et al., (2005, Curr. Cancer Drug Targets 5:229-48 ); Vallbohmer et al. (2005, J. Clin. Oncol. 23:3536-44 ); and Ren et al. (2005, Ann. Surg. 242:55-63 ).
  • the cancer can be one or more of, for example, breast cancer, colon cancer, ovarian carcinoma, osteosarcoma, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, synovial carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, multiple myeloma, neuroblastoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma, or other cancer yet to be determined in which EGFR levels are elevated, up-regulated, mutated or altered in physiology compared to non-oncogenic cells.
  • tumors that may be targeted include acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, biliary cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, esophageal, gastric, head and neck cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, lung cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, renal cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, glioma, melanoma, liver cancer, prostate cancer, and urinary bladder cancer.
  • the second domain is selected from an antibody moiety.
  • An antibody moiety refers to immunoglobulin molecules and immunologically active portions of immunoglobulin molecules, i.e., molecules that contain an antigen binding site that immunospecifically binds an antigen.
  • the term antibody moiety encompasses not only whole antibody molecules, but also antibody multimers and antibody fragments as well as variants (including derivatives) of antibodies, antibody multimers and antibody fragments.
  • Examples of antibody moieties include, but are not limited to single chain Fvs (scFvs), Fab fragments, Fab' fragments, F(ab') 2 , disulfide linked Fvs (sdFvs), and Fvs.
  • Anibody moieties may be, for example, monoclonal, chimeric, human, or humanized.
  • the antibody moiety is selected from (i) a Fab fragment, having VL, CL, VH and CH1 domains; (ii) a Fab' fragment, which is a Fab fragment having one or more cysteine residues at the C-terminus of the CH1 domain; (iii) a Fd fragment having VH and CH1 domains; (iv) a Fd' fragment having VH and CH1 domains and one or more cysteine residues at the C-terminus of the CH1 domain; (v) a Fv fragment having the VL and VH domains of a single arm of an antibody; (vi) a dAb fragment ( Ward et al., Nature 341, 544-546 (1989 )) which consists of a VH domain; (vii) isolated CDR regions; (viii) F(ab') 2 fragments, a bivalent fragment including two Fab' fragments linked by a disulphide bridge at the hinge region; (ix) single chain antibody molecules (e.g.
  • an antibody moiety is a single domain antibody.
  • single domain antibodies include, but are not limited to, heavy chain antibodies, antibodies naturally devoid of light chains, single domain antibodies derived from conventional 4-chain antibodies, engineered antibodies and single domain scaffolds other than those derived from antibodies.
  • Single domain antibodies may be derived from any species including, but not limited to mouse, human, camel, llama, goat, rabbit, bovine.
  • a single domain antibody is a naturally occurring single domain antibody such as VHH domains.
  • VHHs are heavy chain variable domains derived from immunoglobulins naturally devoid of light chains such as those derived from Camelidae (including camel, dromedary, llama, vicuna, alpaca and guanaco) as described in WO94/04678 .
  • VHH molecules are about 10 times smaller than IgG molecules. Since VHH's are known to bind to 'unusual' epitopes such as cavities or grooves, the affinity of such VHH's may be more suitable for therapeutic treatment, PCT Publication No. WO97/49805 .
  • the single domain antibody is a VHH that binds a serum protein as described in U.S. Publication No. 20070178082 .
  • the serum protein may be any suitable protein found in the serum of subject, or fragment thereof.
  • the serum protein is serum albumin, serum immunoglobulins, thyroxine-binding protein, transferrin, or fibrinogen.
  • antibody fragments that may be used to make antibody fragments used in the invention.
  • these fragments were derived via proteolytic digestion of intact antibodies (see, e.g., Morimoto et al. , Journal of Biochemical and Biophysical Methods 24:107-117 (1992 ); and Brennan et al., Science, 229:81 (1985 )).
  • these fragments can now be produced directly by recombinant host cells.
  • the antibody fragments can be isolated from the antibody phage libraries discussed above.
  • Fab'-SH fragments can be directly recovered from E.
  • F(ab') 2 fragments can be isolated directly from recombinant host cell culture.
  • the antibody of choice is a single chain Fv fragment (scFv). See WO 93/16185 ; U.S. Patent No. 5,571,894 ; and U.S. Patent No. 5,587,458 .
  • the antibody fragment may also be a "linear antibody", e.g., as described in U.S. Patent. No. 5,641,870 for example. Such linear antibody fragments may be monospecific or bispecific.
  • the second domain comprises one or more avimer sequences.
  • Avimers were developed from human extracellular receptor domains by in vitro exon shuffling and phage display. ( Silverman et al., 2005, Nat. Biotechnol. 23:1493-94 ; Silverman et al., 2006, Nat. Biotechnol. 24:220 .)
  • the resulting multidomain proteins may comprise multiple independent binding domains that may exhibit improved affinity (in some cases sub-nanomolar) and specificity compared with single-epitope binding proteins. Additional details concerning methods of construction and use of avimers are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 20040175756 , 20050048512 , 20050053973 , 20050089932 and 20050221384 .
  • the second domain comprises one or more lipocalin related sequences, e.g., anticalins or lipocalin derivatives.
  • Anticalins or lipocalin derivatives are a type of binding proteins that have affinities and specificities for various target molecules, including those described herein. Such proteins are described in US Patent Publication Nos. 20060058510 , 20060088908 , 20050106660 , and PCT Publication No. WO2006/056464 .
  • the second domain comprises one or more tetranectin C-type lectin related sequences or trinectins, e.g., tetranectin C-type lectin or tetranectin C-type lectin derivatives.
  • Tetranectin C-type lectins or tetranectin C-type lectin derivatives are a type of binding proteins that have affinities and specificities for various target molecules including those described herein. Different tetranectin C-type lectin and related proteins are described in PCT Publication Nos.
  • the second domain comprises one or more natural ankyrin repeat proteins, e.g., DARPins (Molecular Partners).
  • DARPins Molecular Partners
  • the second domain comprises one or more Affibodies TM .
  • Affibodies TM are derived from the IgG binding domain of Staphyloccal Protein A. Novel binding properties can be achieved by altering residues located near the binding surface of the Protein A domain.
  • the second domain comprises one or more cystein knot based protein scaffolds, i.e., microbodies (Selecore/NascaCell).
  • the second domain comprises one or more Trans-bodies TM .
  • Trans-bodies TM are based on transferrin scaffolds (BioResis/Pfizer).
  • the second domain comprises binding proteins based on gamma-crystallin or ubiquitin.
  • Affilin TM Small Proteins
  • Affilin TM molecules are characterized by the de novo design of a binding region in beta sheet structures of the proteins. Affilin TM molecules have been described in U.S Publication No. 20070248536 .
  • the second domain comprises a Fn3 domain.
  • the Fn3 domain is an Fn3 domain derived from human fibronectin, particularly the tenth Fn3 domain of fibronectin ( 10 Fn3).
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide is a Fn3 domain.
  • one or more loops of the Fn3 domain selected from BC, DE, and FG may be extended or shortened in length relative to the corresponding human fibronectin loop.
  • the length of the loop may be extended by from 2-25 amino acids.
  • the integrin-binding motif "arginine-glycine-aspartic acid" (RGD) may be replaced by a polar amino acid-neutral amino acid-acidic amino acid sequence (in the N-terminal to C-terminal direction).
  • the Fn3 domain binds human IGF-IR, EGFR, or VEGFR2.
  • the Fn3 domain binds human IGF-IR, comprises the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 2-125, 184-204, 236, and inhibits IGF-IR signaling.
  • the Fn3 domain binds human EGFR, comprises the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 207-231, and inhibits EGFR signaling.
  • the Fn3 domain binds human VEGFR2, comprises the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 126-183, 205, 206, and inhibits VEGFR2 signaling.
  • the Fn3 domain is a 10 Fn3 domain compising the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 2-231 or 236.
  • the 10 Fn3 domain comprises an amino acid sequence at least 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 98% identical to any one of SEQ ID NOS: 2-231 or 236.
  • polypeptides comprising an EGFR binding polypeptide and a second domain operably linked via at least one disulfide bond, a peptide bond, a polypeptide, a polymeric sugar, or a PEG moiety.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide and the second domain are operably linked via a polypeptide.
  • the polypeptide linker is SEQ ID NOS: 233 or 235.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide and the second domain are operably linked via a polypeptide linker having a protease site that is cleavable by a protease in the blood or target tissue.
  • a polypeptide linker having a protease site that is cleavable by a protease in the blood or target tissue.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide and the second domain are operably linked via a biocompatible polymer such as a polymeric sugar.
  • a biocompatible polymer such as a polymeric sugar.
  • polymeric sugar can include an enzymatic cleavage site that is cleavable by an enzyme in the blood or target tissue.
  • Such embodiments can be used to release two or more therapeutic proteins for better delivery or therapeutic properties or more efficient production compared to separately producing such proteins.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide and the second domain are operably linked via a polymeric linker.
  • Polymeric linkers can be used to optimally vary the distance between each protein moiety to create a protein with one or more of the following characteristics: 1) reduced or increased steric hindrance of binding of one or more protein domain when binding to a protein of interest, 2) increased protein stability or solubility without searching for additional amino acid substitutions to increase stability or solubility (e.g., solubility at least about 20mg/ml, or at least about 50mg/ml), 3) decreased protein aggregation without searching for additional amino acid substitutions to decrease stability (e.g., as measured by SEC), and 4) increased the overall avidity or affinity of the protein by adding additional binding domains.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide is a 10 Fn3 domain comprising the linker of SEQ ID NO: 235.
  • PEG is conjugated to the cysteine moiety in the linker sequence and operably links the EGFR binding polypeptide to a second domain.
  • the polymer is polyethylene glycol ("PEG"), polypropylene glycol, or polyoxyalkylenes, as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,640,835 ; 4,496,689 ; 4,301,144 ; 4,670,417 ; 4,791,192 or 4,179,337 .
  • the EGFR binding polypeptides comprise an Fn3 domain.
  • the polymer is a PEG moiety.
  • the application provides N or C terminal PEG conjugation to antibody moieties (e.g., camel antibodies and their derivatives, as well as single chain and domain antibodies; and particularly those expressed from microbes) and antibody-like moieties (e.g., derivatives of lipocalins, ankyrins, multiple Cys-Cys domains, and tetranectins; and particularly those expressed from microbes).
  • antibody moieties e.g., camel antibodies and their derivatives, as well as single chain and domain antibodies; and particularly those expressed from microbes
  • antibody-like moieties e.g., derivatives of lipocalins, ankyrins, multiple Cys-Cys domains, and tetranectins; and particularly those expressed from microbes.
  • PEG is a well-known, water soluble polymer that is commercially available or can be prepared by ring-opening polymerization of ethylene glycol according to methods well known in the art ( Sandler and Karo, Polymer Synthesis, Academic Press, New York, Vol. 3, pages 138-161 ).
  • the term "PEG” is used broadly to encompass any polyethylene glycol molecule, without regard to size or to modification at an end of the PEG, and can be represented by the formula: X-O(CH 2 CH 2 O) n-1 CH 2 CH 2 OH (1), where n is 20 to 2300 and X is H or a terminal modification, e.g., a C 1-4 alkyl.
  • the PEG of the invention terminates on one end with hydroxy or methoxy, i.e., X is H or CH 3 ("methoxy PEG").
  • a PEG can contain further chemical groups which are necessary for binding reactions; which results from the chemical synthesis of the molecule; or which is a spacer for optimal distance of parts of the molecule.
  • such a PEG can consist of one or more PEG side-chains which are linked together. PEGs with more than one PEG chain are called multiarmed or branched PEGs. Branched PEGs can be prepared, for example, by the addition of polyethylene oxide to various polyols, including glycerol, pentaerythriol, and sorbitol.
  • a four-armed branched PEG can be prepared from pentaerythriol and ethylene oxide.
  • Branched PEG are described in, for example, European Published Application No. 473084A and U.S. Patent No. 5,932,462 .
  • One form of PEGs includes two PEG side-chains (PEG2) linked via the primary amino groups of a lysine ( Monfardini, C., et al., Bioconjugate Chem. 6 (1995) 62-69 ).
  • PEG conjugation to peptides or proteins generally involves the activation of PEG and coupling of the activated PEG-intennediates directly to target proteins/peptides or to a linker, which is subsequently activated and coupled to target proteins/peptides (see Abuchowski, A. et al, J. Biol. Chem., 252, 3571 (1977 ) and J. Biol. Chem., 252, 3582 (1977), Zalipsky , et al., and Harris et. al., in: Poly(ethylene glycol) Chemistry: Biotechnical and Biomedical Applications; (J. M. Harris ed.) Plenum Press: New York, 1992; Chap.21 and 22 ). It is noted that a binding polypeptide containing a PEG molecule is also known as a conjugated protein, whereas the protein lacking an attached PEG molecule can be referred to as unconjugated.
  • PEG size of PEG utilized will depend on several factors including the intended use of the EGFR binding polypeptide. Larger PEGs are preferred to increase half life in the body, blood, non-blood extracellular fluids or tissues. For in vivo cellular activity, PEGs of the range of about 10 to 60 kDa are preferred, as well as PEGs less than about 100 kDa and more preferably less than about 60 kDa, though sizes greater than about 100 kDa can be used as well. For in vivo imaging application, smaller PEGs, generally less than about 20 kDa, may be used that do not increase half life as much as larger PEGs so as to permit quicker distribution and less half life.
  • a variety of molecular mass forms of PEG can be selected, e.g., from about 1,000 Daltons (Da) to 100,000 Da (n is 20 to 2300), for conjugating to binding polypeptides of the invention.
  • the number of repeating units "n" in the PEG is approximated for the molecular mass described in Daltons. It is preferred that the combined molecular mass of PEG on an activated linker is suitable for pharmaceutical use. Thus, in one embodiment, the molecular mass of the PEG molecules does not exceed 100,000 Da.
  • each PEG molecule has the same molecular mass of 12,000 Da (each n is about 270)
  • the total molecular mass of PEG on the linker is about 36,000 Da (total n is about 820).
  • the molecular masses of the PEG attached to the linker can also be different, e.g., of three molecules on a linker two PEG molecules can be 5,000 Da each (each n is about 110) and one PEG molecule can be 12,000 Da (n is about 270).
  • one PEG moiety is conjugated to the EGFR binding polypeptide. In some embodiments, the PEG moiety is about 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90 KDa.
  • PEGylated EGFR binding polypeptides contain one, two or more PEG moieties.
  • the PEG moiety(ies) are bound to an amino acid residue which is on the surface of the protein and/or away from the surface that contacts the target ligand.
  • the combined or total molecular mass of PEG in PEG- binding polypeptide is from about 3,000 Da to 60,000 Da, or from about 10,000 Da to 36,000 Da.
  • the PEG in pegylated binding polypeptide is a substantially linear, straight-chain PEG.
  • PEG poly(ethylene glycol)
  • a suitable molecular mass for PEG e.g., based on how the pegylated binding polypeptide will be used therapeutically, the desired dosage, circulation time, resistance to proteolysis, immunogenicity, and other considerations.
  • an EGFR binding polypeptide is covalently linked to one poly(ethylene glycol) group of the formula: -CO- (CH 2 ) x - (OCH 2 CH 2 ) m -OR , with the -CO (i.e. carbonyl) of the poly(ethylene glycol) group forming an amide bond with one of the amino groups of the binding polypeptide; R being lower alkyl; x being 2 or 3; m being from about 450 to about 950; and n and m being chosen so that the molecular weight of the conjugate minus the binding polypeptide is from about 10 to 40 kDa.
  • a binding polypeptide's ⁇ -amino group of a lysine is the available (free) amino group.
  • carbonate esters of PEG are used to form the PEG-binding polypeptide conjugates.
  • N,N'-disuccinimidylcarbonate (DSC) may be used in the reaction with PEG to form active mixed PEG-succinimidyl carbonate that may be subsequently reacted with a nucleophilic group of a linker or an amino group of a binding polypeptide (see U.S. Patent No. 5,281,698 and U.S. Patent No. 5,932,462 ).
  • 1,1'-(dibenzotriazolyl)carbonate and di-(2-pyridyl)carbonate may be reacted with PEG to form PEG-benzotriazolyl and PEG-pyridyl mixed carbonate ( U.S. Patent No. 5,382,657 ), respectively.
  • Pegylation of an EGFR binding polypeptide can be performed according to the methods of the state of the art, for example by reaction of the binding polypeptide with electrophilically active PEGs (supplier: Shearwater Corp., USA, www.shearwatercorp.com).
  • Preferred PEG reagents of the present invention are, e.g., N-hydroxysuccinimidyl propionates (PEG-SPA), butanoates (PEG-SBA), PEG-succinimidyl propionate or branched N-hydroxysuccinimides such as mPEG2-NHS ( Monfardini, C., et al., Bioconjugate Chem. 6 (1995) 62-69 ).
  • PEG-SPA N-hydroxysuccinimidyl propionates
  • PEG-SBA butanoates
  • PEG-succinimidyl propionate or branched N-hydroxysuccinimides such as mPEG2-NHS (
  • PEG molecules may be coupled to sulfhydryl groups on a binding polypeptide ( Sartore, L., et al., Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol., 27, 45 (1991 ); Morpurgo et al., Biocon. Chem., 7, 363-368 (1996 ); Goodson et al., Bio/Technology (1990) 8, 343 ; U.S. Patent No. 5,766,897 ).
  • U.S. Patent Nos. 6,610,281 and 5,766,897 describes exemplary reactive PEG species that may be coupled to sulfhydryl groups.
  • the pegylated an EGFR binding polypeptide is produced by site-directed pegylation, particularly by conjugation of PEG to a cysteine moiety at the N- or C-terminus.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide is a Fn3 domain covalently bound to a PEG moiety, wherein at least one of the loops of said Fn3 domain participates in EGFR binding.
  • the PEG moiety may be attached to the Fn3 polypeptide by site directed pegylation, such as by attachment to a Cys residue, where the Cys residue may be positioned at the N-terminus of the Fn3 polypeptide or between the N-terminus and the most N-terminal beta or beta-like strand or at the C-terminus of the Fn3 polypeptide or between the C-terminus and the most C-terminal beta or beta-like strand.
  • a Cys residue may be situated at other positions as well, particularly any of the loops that do not participate in target binding.
  • a PEG moiety may also be attached by other chemistry, including by conjugation to amines.
  • cysteine residues are native to the binding polypeptide, whereas in other embodiments, one or more cysteine residues are engineered into the binding polypeptide.
  • Mutations may be introduced into an binding polypeptide coding sequence to generate cysteine residues. This might be achieved, for example, by mutating one or more amino acid residues to cysteine.
  • Preferred amino acids for mutating to a cysteine residue include serine, threonine, alanine and other hydrophilic residues.
  • the residue to be mutated to cysteine is a surface-exposed residue.
  • Algorithms are well-known in the art for predicting surface accessibility of residues based on primary sequence or a protein.
  • surface residues may be predicted by comparing the amino acid sequences of binding polypeptides, given that the crystal structure of the framework based on which binding polypeptides are designed and evolved has been solved (see Himanen et al., Nature. (2001) 20-27;414(6866):933-8 ) and thus the surface-exposed residues identified.
  • cysteine residues are introduced into binding polypeptides at or near the N- and/or C-terminus, or within loop regions.
  • Pegylation of cysteine residues may be carried out using, for example, PEG-maleiminde, PEG-vinylsulfone, PEG-iodoacetamide, or PEG-orthopyridyl disulfide.
  • the pegylated binding polypeptide comprises a PEG molecule covalently attached to the alpha amino group of the N-terminal amino acid.
  • Site specific N-terminal reductive amination is described in Pepinsky et al., (2001) JPET, 297,1059 , and U.S. Patent No. 5,824,784 .
  • the use of a PEG-aldehyde for the reductive amination of a protein utilizing other available nucleophilic amino groups is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,002,531 , in Wieder et al., (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254,12579 , and in Chamow et al., (1994) Bioconjugate Chem. 5, 133 .
  • pegylated binding polypeptide comprises one or more PEG molecules covalently attached to a linker, which in turn is attached to the alpha amino group of the amino acid residue at the N-terminus of the binding polypeptide.
  • a binding polypeptide is pegylated at the C-terminus.
  • a protein is pegylated at the C-terminus by the introduction of C-terminal azido-methionine and the subsequent conjugation of a methyl-PEG-triarylphosphine compound via the Staudinger reaction. This C-terminal conjugation method is described in Cazalis et al., C-Tenninal Site-Specific PEGylation of a Truncated Thrombomodulin Mutant with Retention of Full Bioactivity, Bioconjug Chem. 2004; 15(5):1005-1009 .
  • PEGylated binding polypeptide such as size exclusion (e.g., gel filtration) and ion exchange chromatography. Products may also be separated using SDS-PAGE. Products that may be separated include mono-, di-, tri- poly- and unpegylated binding polypeptide, as well as free PEG.
  • the percentage of mono-PEG conjugates can be controlled by pooling broader fractions around the elution peak to increase the percentage of mono-PEG in the composition. About ninety percent mono-PEG conjugates represents a good balance of yield and activity.
  • compositions in which, for example, at least ninety-two percent or at least ninety-six percent of the conjugates are mono-PEG species may be desired.
  • the percentage of mono-PEG conjugates is from ninety percent to ninety-six percent.
  • the PEG in a pegylated EGFR binding polypeptide is not hydrolyzed from the pegylated amino acid residue using a hydroxylamine assay, e.g., 450 mM hydroxylamine (pH 6.5) over 8 to 16 hours at room temperature, and is thus stable.
  • a hydroxylamine assay e.g., 450 mM hydroxylamine (pH 6.5) over 8 to 16 hours at room temperature
  • greater than 80% of the composition is stable mono-PEG-binding polypeptide, more preferably at least 90%, and most preferably at least 95%.
  • the pegylated EGFR binding polypeptides will preferably retain at least about 25%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100% of the biological activity associated with the unmodified protein.
  • biological activity refers to its ability to bind to EGFR, as assessed by K D , k on or k off .
  • the pegylated binding polypeptide protein shows an increase in binding to EGFR relative to unpegylated binding polypeptide.
  • the serum clearance rate of PEG-modified polypeptide may be decreased by about 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or even 90%, relative to the clearance rate of the unmodified binding polypeptide.
  • the PEG-modified polypeptide may have a half-life (t 1/2 ) which is enhanced relative to the half-life of the unmodified protein.
  • the half-life of PEG- binding polypeptide may be enhanced by at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100%, 125%, 150%, 175%, 200%, 250%, 300%, 400% or 500%, or even by 1000% relative to the half-life of the unmodified binding polypeptide.
  • the protein half-life is determined in vitro, such as in a buffered saline solution or in serum. In other embodiments, the protein half-life is an in vivo half life, such as the half-life of the protein in the serum or other bodily fluid of an animal.
  • the application provides deimmunized EGFR binding polypeptides.
  • the sequence of an EGFR binding polypeptide has been altered to eliminate one or more B- or T-cell epitopes.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide comprises an 10 Fn3 domain.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide may be deimmunized to render it non-immunogenic, or less immunogenic, to a given species.
  • Deimmunization can be achieved through structural alterations to the polypeptide. Any deimmunization technique known to those skilled in the art can be employed.
  • One suitable technique, for example, for deimmunizing proteins is described in WO 00/34317 .
  • a typical protocol within the general method described therein includes the following steps.
  • the sequences of the polypeptide can be analyzed for the presence of MHC class II binding motifs. For example, a comparison may be made with databases of MHC-binding motifs such as, for example by searching the "motifs" database on the worldwide web at sitewehil.wehi.edu.au.
  • MHC class II binding peptides may be identified using computational threading methods such as those devised by Altuvia et al. (J. Mol. Biol. 249 244-250 (1995 )) whereby consecutive overlapping peptides from the polypeptide are testing for their binding energies to MHC class II proteins.
  • Computational binding prediction algorithms include iTope TM , Tepitope, SYFPEITHI, EpiMatrix (EpiVax), and MHCpred.
  • iTope TM Tepitope
  • SYFPEITHI EpiMatrix
  • EpiVax EpiMatrix
  • MHCpred MHCpred
  • these epitopes are then eliminated by alteration of one or more amino acids, as required to eliminate the T-cell epitope.
  • alteration of one or more amino acids within the T-cell epitope itself This could involve altering an amino acid adjacent the epitope in terms of the primary structure of the protein or one which is not adjacent in the primary structure but is adjacent in the secondary structure of the molecule.
  • the usual alteration contemplated will be amino acid substitution, but it is possible that in certain circumstances amino acid addition or deletion will be appropriate.
  • the deimmunized sequence may be analyzed again to ensure that new T-cell epitopes have not been created and, if they have, the epitope(s) can be deleted.
  • T-cell epitopes identified computationally need to be removed.
  • a person skilled in the art will appreciate the significance of the "strength" or rather potential immunogenicity of particular epitopes.
  • the various computational methods generate scores for potential epitopes.
  • a person skilled in the art will recognize that only the high scoring epitopes may need to be removed.
  • a skilled person will also recognize that there is a balance between removing potential epitopes and maintaining binding affinity of the polypeptide. Therefore, one strategy is to sequentially introduce substitutions into the polypeptide and then test for antigen binding and immunogenicity.
  • the deimmunized polypeptide is less immunogenic (or rather, elicits a reduced HAMA response) than the original polypeptide in a human subject.
  • Assays to determine immunogenicity are well within the knowledge of the skilled person. Art-recognized methods of determining immune response can be performed to monitor a HAMA response in a particular subject or during clinical trials. Subjects administered deimmunized polypeptide can be given an immunogenicity assessment at the beginning and throughout the administration of said therapy. The HAMA response is measured, for example, by detecting antibodies to the deimmunized polypeptide , in serum samples from the subject using a method known to one in the art, including surface plasmon resonance technology
  • in vitro assays designed to measure a T-cell activation event are also indicative of immunogenicity.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptides are glycosylated.
  • the polypeptides are Fn3 domains. Fn3 domains do not normally contain glycosylation sites, however, such glycosylation may be engineered into the protein.
  • N-linked refers to the attachment of the carbohydrate moiety to the side chain of an asparagine residue.
  • the tripeptide sequences asparagine-X-serine and asparagine-X-threonine, where X is any amino acid except proline, are the recognition sequences for enzymatic attachment of the carbohydrate moiety to the asparagine side chain.
  • These can be engineered into the proteins of the invention, in particular fibronectin-based scaffold proteins and their corresponding polynucleotides.
  • O-linked glycosylation refers to the attachment of one of the sugars N-aceylgalactosamine, galactose, or xylose to a hydroxyamino acid, most commonly serine or threonine, although 5-hydroxyproline or 5-hydroxylysine may also be used.
  • glycosylation sites are conveniently accomplished by altering the amino acid sequence such that it contains one or more of the above-described tripeptide sequences (for N-linked glycosylation sites).
  • the alteration may also be made by the addition of, or substitution by, one or more serine or threonine residues to the sequence of the original antibody (for O-linked glycosylation sites).
  • the EGFR binding polypeptides are modified to enhance antigen-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and/or complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC).
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide is an Fn3 domain further comprising an Fc region.
  • the Fc region is a variant that enhances ADCC or CDC.
  • the Fc region variant may comprise a human Fc region sequence (e.g., a human IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 or IgG4 Fc region) comprising an amino acid modification (e.g., a substitution) at one or more amino acid positions.
  • the variant Fc region may mediate antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in the presence of human effector cells more effectively, or bind an Fc gamma receptor (Fc ⁇ R) with better affinity, than a native sequence Fc region.
  • ADCC antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity
  • Such Fc region variants may comprise an amino acid modification at any one or more of positions 256, 290, 298, 312, 326, 330, 333, 334, 360, 378 or 430 of the Fc region, wherein the numbering of the residues in the Fc region is that of the EU index as in Kabat.
  • the application provides fibronectin type III domains that bind a human target, such as, for example, EGFR, VEGFR2, IGF-IR, and other proteins.
  • a human target such as, for example, EGFR, VEGFR2, IGF-IR, and other proteins.
  • a human target such as, for example, EGFR, VEGFR2, IGF-IR, and other proteins.
  • One way to rapidly make and test Fn3 domains with specific binding properties is the nucleic acid-protein fusion technology of Adnexus, a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company.
  • PROfusion TM such in vitro expression and tagging technology, termed PROfusion TM , that exploits nucleic acid-protein fusions (RNA- and DNA-protein fusions) to identify novel polypeptides and amino acid motifs that are important for binding to EGFR and other proteins.
  • Nucleic acid-protein fusion technology is a technology that covalently couples a protein to its encoding genetic information.
  • RNA-protein fusion technology and fibronectin-based scaffold protein library screening methods see Szostak et al., U.S. Patent Nos.: 6,258,558 ; 6,261,804 ; 6,214,553 ; 6,281,344 ; 6,207,446 ; 6,518,018 ; PCT Publication Nos. WO00/34784 ; WO01/64942 ; WO02/032925 ; and Roberts and Szostak, Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. 94:12297-12302, 1997 . Further discussion of nucleic acid-protein fusion technology can be found in the Examples and the Material and Methods section of the application.
  • Nucleic acids encoding any of the various proteins or polypeptides disclosed herein may be synthesized chemically. Codon usage may be selected so as to improve expression in a cell. Such codon usage will depend on the cell type selected. Specialized codon usage patterns have been developed for E. coli and other bacteria, as well as mammalian cells, plant cells, yeast cells and insect cells. See for example: Mayfield et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jan 21;100(2):438-42 ; Sinclair et al. Protein Expr Purif. 2002 Oct;26(1):96-105 ; Connell ND. Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2001 Oct;12(5):446-9 ; Makrides et al. Microbiol Rev. 1996 Sep;60(3):512-38 ; and Sharp et al. Yeast. 1991 Oct;7(7):657-78 .
  • the DNA encoding the polypeptide is operably linked to suitable transcriptional or translational regulatory elements derived from mammalian, viral, or insect genes.
  • suitable transcriptional or translational regulatory elements include a transcriptional promoter, an optional operator sequence to control transcription, a sequence encoding suitable mRNA ribosomal binding sites, and sequences that control the termination of transcription and translation.
  • the ability to replicate in a host, usually conferred by an origin of replication, and a selection gene to facilitate recognition of transformants are additionally incorporated.
  • the proteins described herein may be produced recombinantly not only directly, but also as a fusion polypeptide with a heterologous polypeptide, which is preferably a signal sequence or other polypeptide having a specific cleavage site at the N-terminus of the mature protein or polypeptide.
  • a heterologous polypeptide which is preferably a signal sequence or other polypeptide having a specific cleavage site at the N-terminus of the mature protein or polypeptide.
  • the heterologous signal sequence selected preferably is one that is recognized and processed (i.e., cleaved by a signal peptidase) by the host cell.
  • the signal sequence is substituted by a prokaryotic signal sequence selected, for example, from the group of the alkaline phosphatase, penicillinase, lpp, or heat-stable enterotoxin II leaders.
  • a prokaryotic signal sequence selected, for example, from the group of the alkaline phosphatase, penicillinase, lpp, or heat-stable enterotoxin II leaders.
  • yeast secretion the native signal sequence may be substituted by, e.g., the yeast invertase leader, a factor leader (including Saccharomyces and Kluyveromyces alpha-factor leaders), or acid phosphatase leader, the C. albicans glucoamylase leader, or the signal described in PCT Publication No. WO90/13646 .
  • mammalian signal sequences as well as viral secretory leaders for example, the herpes simplex gD signal, are available.
  • the DNA for such precursor regions may be ligated
  • Both expression and cloning vectors contain a nucleic acid sequence that enables the vector to replicate in one or more selected host cells.
  • this sequence is one that enables the vector to replicate independently of the host chromosomal DNA, and includes origins of replication or autonomously replicating sequences.
  • origins of replication or autonomously replicating sequences are well known for a variety of bacteria, yeast, and viruses.
  • the origin of replication from the plasmid pBR322 is suitable for most Gram-negative bacteria, the 2 micron plasmid origin is suitable for yeast, and various viral origins (SV40, polyoma, adenovirus, VSV or BPV) are useful for cloning vectors in mammalian cells.
  • the origin of replication component is not needed for mammalian expression vectors (the SV40 origin may typically be used only because it contains the early promoter).
  • Selection genes may contain a selection gene, also termed a selectable marker.
  • Typical selection genes encode proteins that (a) confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxins, e.g., ampicillin, neomycin, methotrexate, or tetracycline, (b) complement auxotrophic deficiencies, or (c) supply critical nutrients not available from complex media, e.g., the gene encoding D-alanine racemase for Bacilli.
  • a suitable selection gene for use in yeast is the trp1 gene present in the yeast plasmid YRp7 ( Stinchcomb et al., Nature, 282:39 (1979 )).
  • the trp1 gene provides a selection marker for a mutant strain of yeast lacking the ability to grow in tryptophan, for example, ATCC No. 44076 or PEP4-1. Jones, Genetics, 85:12 (1977 ).
  • the presence of the trp1 lesion in the yeast host cell genome then provides an effective environment for detecting transformation by growth in the absence of tryptophan.
  • Leu2-deficient yeast strains (ATCC 20,622 or 38,626) are complemented by known plasmids bearing the Leu2 gene.
  • Expression and cloning vectors usually contain a promoter that is recognized by the host organism and is operably linked to the nucleic acid encoding the protein of the invention, e.g., a fibronectin-based scaffold protein.
  • Promoters suitable for use with prokaryotic hosts include the phoA promoter, beta-lactamase and lactose promoter systems, alkaline phosphatase, a tryptophan (trp) promoter system, and hybrid promoters such as the tac promoter.
  • trp tryptophan
  • Promoters for use in bacterial systems also will contain a Shine-Dalgamo (S.D.) sequence operably linked to the DNA encoding the protein of the invention.
  • Promoter sequences are known for eukaryotes. Virtually all eukaryotic genes have an AT-rich region located approximately 25 to 30 bases upstream from the site where transcription is initiated. Another sequence found 70 to 80 bases upstream from the start of transcription of many genes is a CNCAAT region where N may be any nucleotide. At the 3' end of most eukaryotic genes is an AATAAA sequence that may be the signal for addition of the poly A tail to the 3' end of the coding sequence. All of these sequences are suitably inserted into eukaryotic expression vectors.
  • suitable promoting sequences for use with yeast hosts include the promoters for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase or other glycolytic enzymes, such as enolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, hexokinase, pyruvate decarboxylase, phosphofructokinase, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, 3-phosphoglycerate mutase, pyruvate kinase, triosephosphate isomerase, phosphoglucose isomerase, and glucokinase.
  • 3-phosphoglycerate kinase or other glycolytic enzymes such as enolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, hexokinase, pyruvate decarboxylase, phosphofructokinase, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, 3-phosphoglycerate mutase, pyruvate
  • yeast promoters which are inducible promoters having the additional advantage of transcription controlled by growth conditions, are the promoter regions for alcohol dehydrogenase 2, isocytochrome C, acid phosphatase, degradative enzymes associated with nitrogen metabolism, metallothionein, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and enzymes responsible for maltose and galactose utilization.
  • Suitable vectors and promoters for use in yeast expression are further described in EP Patent Publication No. 73,657 .
  • Yeast enhancers also are advantageously used with yeast promoters.
  • Transcription from vectors in mammalian host cells can be controlled, for example, by promoters obtained from the genomes of viruses such as polyoma virus, fowlpox virus, adenovirus (such as Adenovirus 2), bovine papilloma virus, avian sarcoma virus, cytomegalovirus, a retrovirus, hepatitis-B virus and most preferably Simian Virus 40 (SV40), from heterologous mammalian promoters, e.g., the actin promoter or an immunoglobulin promoter, from heat-shock promoters, provided such promoters are compatible with the host cell systems.
  • viruses such as polyoma virus, fowlpox virus, adenovirus (such as Adenovirus 2), bovine papilloma virus, avian sarcoma virus, cytomegalovirus, a retrovirus, hepatitis-B virus and most preferably Simian Virus 40 (SV
  • the early and late promoters of the SV40 virus are conveniently obtained as an SV40 restriction fragment that also contains the SV40 viral origin of replication.
  • the immediate early promoter of the human cytomegalovirus is conveniently obtained as a HindIII E restriction fragment.
  • a system for expressing DNA in mammalian hosts using the bovine papilloma virus as a vector is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,419,446 .
  • a modification of this system is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,601,978 .
  • Enhancer sequences are now known from mammalian genes (globin, elastase, albumin, .alpha.-fetoprotein, and insulin). Typically, however, one will use an enhancer from a eukaryotic cell virus. Examples include the SV40 enhancer on the late side of the replication origin (bp 100-270), the cytomegalovirus early promoter enhancer, the polyoma enhancer on the late side of the replication origin, and adenovirus enhancers.
  • the enhancer may be spliced into the vector at a position 5' or 3' to the multivalent antibody-encoding sequence, but is preferably located at a site 5' from the promoter.
  • Expression vectors used in eukaryotic host cells will also contain sequences necessary for the termination of transcription and for stabilizing the mRNA. Such sequences are commonly available from the 5' and, occasionally 3', untranslated regions of eukaryotic or viral DNAs or cDNAs. These regions contain nucleotide segments transcribed as polyadenylated fragments in the untranslated portion of the mRNA encoding the multivalent antibody.
  • One useful transcription termination component is the bovine growth hormone polyadenylation region. See WO94/11026 and the expression vector disclosed therein.
  • the recombinant DNA can also include any type of protein tag sequence that may be useful for purifying the protein.
  • protein tags include but are not limited to a histidine tag, a FLAG tag, a myc tag, an HA tag, or a GST tag.
  • Appropriate cloning and expression vectors for use with bacterial, fungal, yeast, and mammalian cellular hosts can be found in Cloning Vectors: A Laboratory Manual, (Elsevier, New York, 1985 ).
  • the expression construct is introduced into the host cell using a method appropriate to the host cell, as will be apparent to one of skill in the art.
  • a variety of methods for introducing nucleic acids into host cells are known in the art, including, but not limited to, electroporation; transfection employing calcium chloride, rubidium chloride, calcium phosphate, DEAE-dextran, or other substances; microprojectile bombardment; lipofection; and infection (where the vector is an infectious agent).
  • Suitable host cells include prokaryotes, yeast, mammalian cells, or bacterial cells.
  • Suitable bacteria include gram negative or gram positive organisms, for example, E. coli or Bacillus spp. Yeast, preferably from the Saccharomyces species, such as S. cerevisiae, may also be used for production of polypeptides.
  • Various mammalian or insect cell culture systems can also be employed to express recombinant proteins. Baculovirus systems for production of heterologous proteins in insect cells are reviewed by Luckow and Summers, (Bio/Technology, 6:47, 1988 ).
  • suitable mammalian host cell lines include endothelial cells, COS-7 monkey kidney cells, CV-1, L cells, C127, 3T3, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO), human embryonic kidney cells, HeLa, 293, 293T, and BHK cell lines.
  • Purified polypeptides are prepared by culturing suitable host/vector systems to express the recombinant proteins. For many applications, the small size of many of the polypeptides disclosed herein would make expression in E. coli as the preferred method for expression. The protein is then purified from culture media or cell extracts.
  • Suitable host cells for the expression of glycosylated proteins of the invention are derived from multicellular organisms.
  • invertebrate cells include plant and insect cells.
  • Numerous baculoviral strains and variants and corresponding permissive insect host cells from hosts such as Spodoptera frugiperda (caterpillar), Aedes aegypti (mosquito), Aedes albopictus (mosquito), Drosophila melanogaster (fruitfly), and Bombyx mori have been identified.
  • a variety of viral strains for transfection are publicly available, e.g., the L-1 variant of Autographa californica NPV and the Bm-5 strain of Bombyx mori NPV, and such viruses may be used as the virus herein according to the present invention, particularly for transfection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells.
  • vertebrate cells such as for glycosylation, and propagation of vertebrate cells in culture (tissue culture) has become a routine procedure.
  • useful mammalian host cell lines are monkey kidney CV1 line transformed by SV40 (COS-7, ATCC CRL 1651); human embryonic kidney line (293 or 293 cells subcloned for growth in suspension culture, Graham et al., J. Gen Virol. 36:59. (1977 )); baby hamster kidney cells (BHK, ATCC CCL 10); Chinese hamster ovary cells/-DHFR (CHO, Urlaub et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
  • mice sertoli cells TM4, Mather, Biol. Reprod. 23:243-251 (1980 )); monkey kidney cells (CV1 ATCC CCL 70); African green monkey kidney cells (VERO-76, ATCC CRL-1587); human cervical carcinoma cells (HELA, ATCC CCL 2); canine kidney cells (MDCK, ATCC CCL 34); buffalo rat liver cells (BRL 3A, ATCC CRL 1442); human lung cells (W138, ATCC CCL 75); human liver cells (Hep G2, HB 8065); mouse mammary tumor (MMT 060562, ATCC CCL51); TRI cells ( Mather et al., Annals N.Y. Acad. Sci.
  • MRC 5 cells MRC 5 cells; FS4 cells; a human hepatoma line (Hep G2); and myeloma or lymphoma cells (e.g., Y0, J558L, P3 and NSO cells) (see U.S. Patent No. 5,807,715 ).
  • Plant cell cultures of cotton, corn, potato, soybean, petunia, tomato, and tobacco can also be utilized as hosts.
  • Host cells are transformed with the herein-described expression or cloning vectors for protein production and cultured in conventional nutrient media modified as appropriate for inducing promoters, selecting transformants, or amplifying the genes encoding the desired sequences.
  • the host cells used to produce the proteins of this invention may be cultured in a variety of media.
  • Commercially available media such as Ham's F10 (Sigma), Minimal Essential Medium ((MEM), (Sigma), RPMI-1640 (Sigma), and Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium ((DMEM), Sigma) are suitable for culturing the host cells.
  • any of these media may be supplemented as necessary with hormones and/or other growth factors (such as insulin, transferrin, or epidermal growth factor), salts (such as sodium chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate), buffers (such as HEPES), nucleotides (such as adenosine and thymidine), antibiotics (such as GENTAMYCIN TM drug), trace elements (defined as inorganic compounds usually present at final concentrations in the micromolar range), and glucose or an equivalent energy source. Any other necessary supplements may also be included at appropriate concentrations that would be known to those skilled in the art.
  • the culture conditions such as temperature, pH, and the like, are those previously used with the host cell selected for expression, and will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan.
  • Proteins disclosed herein can also be produced using cell- translation systems.
  • the nucleic acids encoding the polypeptide must be modified to allow in vitro transcription to produce mRNA and to allow cell-free translation of the mRNA in the particular cell-free system being utilized (eukaryotic such as a mammalian or yeast cell-free translation system or prokaryotic such as a bacterial cell-free translation system.
  • Proteins of the invention can also be produced by chemical synthesis (e.g., by the methods described in Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, 2nd ed., 1984, The Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, IL ). Modifications to the protein can also be produced by chemical synthesis.
  • the proteins of the present invention can be purified by isolation/purification methods for proteins generally known in the field of protein chemistry.
  • Non-limiting examples include extraction, recrystallization, salting out (e.g., with ammonium sulfate or sodium sulfate), centrifugation, dialysis, ultrafiltration, adsorption chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, normal phase chromatography, reversed-phase chromatography, gel filtration, gel permeation chromatography, affinity chromatography, electrophoresis, countercurrent distribution or any combinations of these.
  • polypeptides may be exchanged into different buffers and/or concentrated by any of a variety of methods known to the art, including, but not limited to, filtration and dialysis.
  • the purified polypeptide is preferably at least 85% pure, more preferably at least 95% pure, and most preferably at least 98% pure. Regardless of the exact numerical value of the purity, the polypeptide is sufficiently pure for use as a pharmaceutical product.
  • the application provides EGFR binding polypeptides labeled with a detectable moiety.
  • the polypeptides may be used for a variety of diagnostic applications.
  • the detectable moiety can be any one which is capable of producing, either directly or indirectly, a detectable signal.
  • the detectable moiety may be a radioisotope, such as H3, C14 or 13, P32, S35, or I131; a fluorescent or chemiluminescent compound, such as fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, or luciferin; or an enzyme, such as alkaline phosphatase, beta-galactosidase or horseradish peroxidase.
  • any method known in the art for conjugating a protein to the detectable moiety may be employed, including those methods described by Hunter, et al., Nature 144:945 (1962 ); David, et al., Biochemistry 13:1014 (1974 ); Pain, et al., J. Immunol. Meth. 40:219 (1981 ); and Nygren, J. Histochem. and Cytochem. 30:407 (1982 ).
  • conjugation chemistry well know in the art including chemistry compatible with proteins, such as chemistry for specific amino acids, such as Cys and Lys.
  • a linking group or reactive group is used.
  • linking groups are well known in the art and include disulfide groups, thioether groups, acid labile groups, photolabile groups, peptidase labile groups and esterase labile groups.
  • Preferred linking groups are disulfide groups and thioether groups depending on the application.
  • a Cys can be engineered in a location to allow for activity of the protein to exist while creating a location for conjugation.
  • EGFR binding polypeptides linked with a detectable moiety also are useful for in vivo imaging.
  • the polypeptide may be linked to a radio-opaque agent or radioisotope, administered to a subject, preferably into the bloodstream, and the presence and location of the labeled protein in the subject is assayed. This imaging technique is useful in the staging and treatment of malignancies.
  • the protein may be labeled with any moiety that is detectable in a subject, whether by nuclear magnetic resonance, radiology, or other detection means known in the art.
  • EGFR binding polypeptides also are useful as affinity purification agents.
  • the polypeptides are immobilized on a suitable support, such a Sephadex resin or filter paper, using methods well known in the art.
  • EGFR binding polypeptides can be employed in any known assay method, such as competitive binding assays, direct and indirect sandwich assays, and immunoprecipitation assays ( Zola, Monoclonal Antibodies: A Manual of Techniques, pp. 147-158 (CRC Press, Inc., 1987 )).
  • the disclosure provides methods for detecting EGFR in a sample.
  • a method may comprise contacting the sample with a EGFR binding polypeptide described herein, wherein said contacting is carried out under conditions that allow polypeptide- EGFR complex formation; and detecting said complex, thereby detecting said EGFR in said sample.
  • Detection may be carried out using any technique known in the art, such as, for example, radiography, immunological assay, fluorescence detection, mass spectroscopy, or surface plasmon resonance.
  • the sample will often by a biological sample, such as a biopsy, and particularly a biopsy of a tumor, a suspected tumor.
  • the sample may be from a human or other mammal.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide may be labeled with a labeling moiety, such as a radioactive moiety, a fluorescent moiety, a chromogenic moiety, a chemiluminescent moiety, or a hapten moiety.
  • a labeling moiety such as a radioactive moiety, a fluorescent moiety, a chromogenic moiety, a chemiluminescent moiety, or a hapten moiety.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide may be immobilized on a solid support.
  • the application provides EGFR binding polypeptides useful in the treatment of EGFR related disorders.
  • the application also describes methods for administering EGFR binding polypeptides to a subject.
  • the subject can be a human.
  • the subject can have an EGFR related disorder, such as cancer.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide inhibits EGFR signaling.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide inhibits EGFR binding to one or more EGFR ligands.
  • administration of EGFR binding polypeptides to an animal causes a reduction in EGFR levels in EGFR -expressing tumors.
  • the polypeptide causes a reduction in receptor levels by at least 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80% or more compared to an untreated animal.
  • administration of an EGFR binding polypeptide inhibits tumor cell growth in vivo.
  • the tumor cell may be derived from any cell type including, without limitation, epidermal, epithelial, endothelial, leukemia, sarcoma, multiple myeloma, or mesodermal cells.
  • Examples of common tumor cell lines for use in xenograft tumor studies include A549 (non-small cell lung carcinoma) cells, DU-145 (prostate) cells, MCF-7 (breast) cells, Colo 205 (colon) cells, 3T3/]GF-IR (mouse fibroblast) cells, NCI H441 cells, HEP G2 (hepatoma) cells, MDA MB 231 (breast) cells, HT-29 (colon) cells, MDA-MB-435s (breast) cells, U266 cells, SH-SY5Y cells, Sk-Mel-2 cells, NCI-H929, RPM18226, and A431 cells.
  • the polypeptide inhibits tumor cell growth relative to the growth of the tumor in an untreated animal. In some embodiments, the polypeptide inhibits tumor cell growth by 50, 60, 70, 80% or more relative to the growth of the tumor in an untreated animal. In some embodiments, the inhibition of tumor cell growth is measured at least 7 days or at least 14 days after the animals have started treatment with the polypeptide. In some embodiments, another antineoplastic agent is administered to the animal with the polypeptide.
  • Such a method may comprise administering to said subject an effective amount of any of the EGFR inhibiting polypeptides described herein.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide inhibits EGFR signaling.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptide inhibits EGFR binding to one or more EGFR ligands.
  • EGFR-associated disease relates to pathological states which are dependent on EGFR activity.
  • EGFR is involved either directly or indirectly in the signal transduction pathways of various cell activities, including proliferation, adhesion and migration, as well as differentiation.
  • the diseases associated with EGFR activity include the proliferation of tumour cells, pathological neovascularisation, which promotes the growth of solid tumours, neovascularisation in the eye (diabetic retinopathy, age-induced macular degeneration and the like) and inflammation (psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and the like).
  • tumours and/or tumour metastases are particularly preferably selected from the group consisting of brain tumour, tumour of the urogenital tract, tumour of the lymphatic system, stomach tumour, laryngeal tumour, monocytic leukaemia, lung adenocarcinoma, small-cell lung carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma and breast carcinoma, without being restricted thereto.
  • EGFR binding polypeptide for the treatment of diseases selected from the group of cancerous diseases consisting of squamous cell carcinoma, bladder cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, head cancer, neck cancer, oesophageal cancer, gynecological cancer, thyroid cancer, lymphoma, chronic leukaemia and acute leukaemia.
  • diseases selected from the group of cancerous diseases consisting of squamous cell carcinoma, bladder cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, head cancer, neck cancer, oesophageal cancer, gynecological cancer, thyroid cancer, lymphoma, chronic leukaemia and acute leukaemia.
  • a disease of this type involving angiogenesis is an ocular disease, such as retinal vascularisation, diabetic retinopathy, age-induced macular degeneration and the like.
  • EGFR binding polypeptide for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases selected from the group consisting of retinal vascularisation, diabetic retinopathy, age-induced macular degeneration and/or inflammatory diseases.
  • EGFR binding polypeptide for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases selected from the group consisting of psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, contact dermatitis, delayed hypersensitivity reaction, inflammation, endometriosis, scarring, benign prostate hyperplasia, immunological diseases, autoimmune diseases and immunodeficiency diseases.
  • EGFR binding polypeptide for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of bone pathologies selected from the group consisting of osteosarcoma, osteoarthritis and rickets.
  • One aspect of the applicatin provides EGFR binding polypeptides that inhibit EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation or receptor levels in vivo or both.
  • administration of an EGFR binder to an animal causes a reduction in EGFR phosphotyrosine signal in EGFR -expressing tumors.
  • the EGFR binder causes a reduction in phosphotyrosine signal by at least 20%.
  • the EGFR binder causes a decrease in phosphotyrosine signal by at least 50, 60, 70, 80, 90% or more.
  • One aspect of the invention provides EGFR binding polypeptides linked to a cytotoxic agent.
  • a cytotoxic agent can be prepared by in vitro or in vivo methods as appropriate.
  • In vitro methods include conjugation chemistry well know in the art including chemistry compatible with proteins, such as chemistry for specific amino acids, such as Cys and Lys.
  • a linking group or reactive group is used.
  • Suitable linking groups are well known in the art and include disulfide groups, thioether groups, acid labile groups, photolabile groups, peptidase labile groups and esterase labile groups.
  • Preferred linking groups are disulfide groups and thioether groups.
  • conjugates can be constructed using a disulfide exchange reaction or by forming a thioether bond between the antibody and the cytotoxic agent.
  • Preferred cytotoxic agents are maytansinoids, taxanes and analogs of CC-1065.
  • an EGFR binding polypeptide is linked to a bacterial toxin, a plant toxin, ricin, abrin, a ribonuclease (RNase), DNase I, a protease, Staphylococcal enterotoxin-A, pokeweed antiviral protein, gelonin, diphtherin toxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin, Pseudomonas endotoxin, Ranpimase (Rap), Rap (N69Q), an enzyme, or a fluorescent protein.
  • RNase ribonuclease
  • DNase I DNase I
  • a protease Staphylococcal enterotoxin-A
  • pokeweed antiviral protein pokeweed antiviral protein
  • gelonin gelonin
  • diphtherin toxin diphtherin toxin
  • Pseudomonas exotoxin Pseudomonas endotoxin
  • an EGFR binding polypeptide is linked to maytansinoids or maytansinoid analogs.
  • suitable maytansinoids include maytansinol and maytansinol analogs.
  • suitable maytansinoids are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,424,219 ; 4,256,746 ; 4,294,757 ; 4,307,016 ; 4,313,946 ; 4,315,929 ; 4,331,598 ; 4,361,650 ; 4,362,663 ; 4,364,866 ; 4,450,254 ; 4,322,348 ; 4,371,533 ; 6,333,410 ; 5,475,092 ; 5,585,499 ; and 5,846,545 .
  • an EGFR binding polypeptide is linked to a taxanes.
  • Taxanes suitable for use in the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,372,738 and 6,340,701 .
  • an EGFR binding polypeptide is linked to CC-1065 or its analogs.
  • CC-1065 and its analogs are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,372,738 ; 6,340,701 ; 5,846,545 and 5,585,499 .
  • CC-1065 is a potent anti-tumor antibiotic isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces zelensis.
  • CC-1065 is about 1000-fold more potent in vitro than are commonly used anti-cancer drugs, such as doxorubicin, methotrexate and vincristine ( B. K. Bhuyan et al., Cancer Res., 42, 3532-3537 (1982 )).
  • Cytotoxic drugs such as methotrexate, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, vincristine, vinblastine, melphalan, mitomycin C, chlorambucil, and calicheamicin are also suitable for the preparation of conjugates of the present invention, and the drug molecules can also be linked to EGFR binding polypeptides through an intermediary carrier molecule such as serum albumin.
  • EGFR binding polypeptides are co-administered, or administered sequentially, with one or more additional therapeutic agents.
  • Suitable therapeutic agents include, but are not limited to, targeted therapeutics, other targeted biologics, and cytotoxic or cytostatic agents. In some instances in will be preferred to administer agents from the same or separate therapeutically acceptable vial, syringe or other administration device that holds a liquid formulation.
  • Cancer therapeutic agents are those agents that seek to kill or limit the growth of cancer cells while having minimal effects on the patient. Thus, such agents may exploit any difference in cancer cell properties (e.g., metabolism, vascularization or cell-surface antigen presentation) from healthy host cells. Differences in tumor morphology are potential sites for intervention: for example, the second therapeutic can be an antibody such as an anti-VEGF antibody that is useful in retarding the vascularization of the interior of a solid tumor, thereby slowing its growth rate.
  • the second therapeutic can be an antibody such as an anti-VEGF antibody that is useful in retarding the vascularization of the interior of a solid tumor, thereby slowing its growth rate.
  • adjuncts such as granisetron HCl, androgen inhibitors such as leuprolide acetate, antibiotics such as doxorubicin, antiestrogens such as tamoxifen, antimetabolites such as interferon alpha-2a, cytotoxic agents such as taxol, enzyme inhibitors such as ras farnesyl-transferase inhibitor, immunomodulators such as aldesleukin, and nitrogen mustard derivatives such as melphalan HCl, and the like.
  • adjuncts such as granisetron HCl
  • androgen inhibitors such as leuprolide acetate
  • antibiotics such as doxorubicin
  • antiestrogens such as tamoxifen
  • antimetabolites such as interferon alpha-2a
  • cytotoxic agents such as taxol
  • enzyme inhibitors such as ras farnesyl-transferase inhibitor
  • immunomodulators such as aldesleukin, and nitrogen mustard derivatives such as melphal
  • the therapeutic agents that can be combined with EGFR binding polypeptides for improved anti-cancer efficacy include diverse agents used in oncology practice (Reference: Cancer, Principles & Practice of Oncology, DeVita, V. T., Hellman, S., Rosenberg, S.
  • the one or more additional therapeutic agents can be administered before, concurrently, or after the EGFR binding polypeptides.
  • the skilled artisan will understand that for each therapeutic agent there may be advantages to a particular order of administration. Similarly, the skilled artisan will understand that for each therapeutic agent, the length of time between which the agent, and an antibody, antibody fragment or conjugate of the invention is administered, will vary.
  • Therapeutic formulations comprising EGFR binding polypeptides are prepared for storage by mixing the described proteins having the desired degree of purity with optional physiologically acceptable carriers, excipients or stabilizers ( Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences 16th edition, Osol, A. Ed. (1980 )), in the form of aqueous solutions, lyophilized or other dried formulations.
  • Acceptable carriers, excipients, or stabilizers are nontoxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed, and include buffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids; antioxidants including ascorbic acid and methionine; preservatives (such as octadecyidimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride; hexamethonium chloride; benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride; phenol, butyl or benzyl alcohol; alkyl parabens such as methyl or propyl paraben; catechol; resorcinol; cyclohexanol; 3-pentanol; and m-cresol); low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptides; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, histidine,
  • formulations herein may also contain more than one active compound as necessary for the particular indication being treated, preferably those with complementary activities that do not adversely affect each other.
  • active compounds are provided herein.
  • Such molecules are suitably present in combination in amounts that are effective for the purpose intended.
  • the active ingredients may also be entrapped in microcapsule prepared, for example, by coacervation techniques or by interfacial polymerization, for example, hydroxymethylcellulose or gelatin-microcapsule and poly-(methylmethacylate) microcapsule, respectively, in colloidal drug delivery systems (for example, liposomes, albumin microspheres, microemulsions, nano-particles and nanocapsules) or in macroemulsions.
  • colloidal drug delivery systems for example, liposomes, albumin microspheres, microemulsions, nano-particles and nanocapsules
  • the formulations to be used for in vivo administration must be sterile. This is readily accomplished by filtration through sterile filtration membranes.
  • Sustained-release preparations may be prepared. Suitable examples of sustained-release preparations include semipermeable matrices of solid hydrophobic polymers containing the proteins of the invention, which matrices are in the form of shaped articles, e.g., films, or microcapsule. Examples of sustained-release matrices include polyesters, hydrogels (for example, poly(2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate), or poly(vinylalcohol)), polylactides ( U.S. Patent No.
  • copolymers of L-glutamic acid and y ethyl-L-glutamate non-degradable ethylene-vinyl acetate
  • degradable lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers such as the LUPRON DEPOT TM (injectable microspheres composed of lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer and leuprolide acetate)
  • poly-D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyric acid While polymers such as ethylene-vinyl acetate and lactic acid-glycolic acid enable release of molecules for over 100 days, certain hydrogels release proteins for shorter time periods.
  • encapsulated proteins of the invention may remain in the body for a long time, they may denature or aggregate as a result of exposure to moisture at 37°C, resulting in a loss of biological activity and possible changes in immunogenicity.
  • Rational strategies can be devised for stabilization depending on the mechanism involved. For example, if the aggregation mechanism is discovered to be intermolecular S--S bond formation through thio-disulfide interchange, stabilization may be achieved by modifying sulfhydryl residues, lyophilizing from acidic solutions, controlling moisture content, using appropriate additives, and developing specific polymer matrix compositions.
  • the dosage of each therapeutic agent will be dependent on the identity of the agent, the preferred dosages can range from about 10 mg/square meter to about 2000 mg/square meter, more preferably from about 50 mg/square meter to about 1000 mg/square meter.
  • the EGFR binding polypeptides are administered to a subject, in a pharmaceutically acceptable dosage form. They can be administered intravenously as a bolus or by continuous infusion over a period of time, by intramuscular, subcutaneous, intra-articular, intrasynovial, intrathecal, oral, topical, or inhalation routes.
  • the protein may also be administered by intratumoral, peritumoral, intralesional, or perilesional routes, to exert local as well as systemic therapeutic effects.
  • Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, and excipients are well known and can be determined by those of skill in the art as the clinical situation warrants.
  • Suitable carriers, diluents and/or excipients include: (1) Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline, pH about 7.4, containing about 1 mg/ml to 25 mg/ml human serum albumin, (2) 0.9% saline (0.9% w/v NaCl), and (3) 5% (w/v) dextrose.
  • the method described herein can be practiced in vitro, in vivo, or ex vivo.
  • EGFR binding polypeptides may occur as described above for therapeutic applications.
  • Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, and excipients for co-administration will be understood by the skilled artisan to depend on the identity of the particular therapeutic agent being co-administered.
  • the protein When present in an aqueous dosage form, rather than being lyophilized, the protein typically will be formulated at a concentration of about 0.1 mg/ml to 100 mg/ml, although wide variation outside of these ranges is permitted.
  • the appropriate dosage of EGFR binding polypeptides will depend on the type of disease to be treated, as defined above, the severity and course of the disease, whether the antibodies are administered for preventive or therapeutic purposes, the course of previous therapy, the patient's clinical history and response to the antibody, and the discretion of the attending physician.
  • the protein is suitably administered to the patient at one time or over a series of treatments.
  • kits comprising one or more of the elements described herein, and instructions for the use of those elements.
  • kit includes an EGFR binding polypeptides and a therapeutic agent.
  • the instructions for this preferred kit include instructions for inhibiting the growth of a cancer cell using the EGFR binding polypeptide and the therapeutic agent, and/or instructions for a method of treating a patient having a cancer using the EGFR binding polypeptide and the therapeutic agent.
  • the therapeutic agent used in the kit is selected from the group consisting of docetaxel, paclitaxel, doxorubicin, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, trastuzumab, capecitabine, tamoxifen, toremifene, letrozole, anastrozole, fulvestrant, exemestane, goserelin, oxaliplatin, carboplatin, cisplatin, dexamethasone, antide, bevacizumab, 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, levamisole, irinotecan, etoposide, topotecan, gemcitabine, vinorelbine, estramustine, mitoxantrone, abarelix, zoledronate, streptozocin, rituximab, idarubicin, busulfan, chlorambucil, fludarabine, imatinib, cytara
  • kits described herein are in a suitable form for a kit, such as a solution or lyophilized powder.
  • concentration or amount of the elements of the kits will be understood by the skilled artisan to varying depending on the identity and intended use of each element of the kit.
  • kits include breast cancer, colon cancer, ovarian carcinoma, osteosarcoma, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, synovial carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, multiple myeloma, neuroblastoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma.
  • cytotoxic or therapeutic agents administered in the methods described herein can be readily determined by those skilled in the art. Pharmaceutical package inserts may also be consulted when determining the proper dosage.
  • RNA-protein fusion variants were constructed based on the scaffold of the tenth type 3 domain of human fibronectin with three randomized regions at positions 23-29, 52-55 and 77-86, amino acid numbering according to SEQ ID NO: 1 (the "NNS” library) ( Xu et al, Chemistry & Biology 9:933-942, 2002 ).
  • the cDNA was eluted by treatment with high pH, amplified by PCR, and were used to generate new more focused libraries of mRNA/cDNA-protein fusions that were enriched for binders of EGFR. Five cycles of amplification and selection were carried out in this manner and target binding was monitored by quantitative PCR. Analogous experiments were carried out using the s525 variant of EGFR-Fc (amino acids 1-525 of EGFR fused to Fc), or using EGFR-Fc in the presence of EGF. In each case, the RNA-protein fusion library bound to the target after 5 cycles of selection.
  • Proteins encoded by independent clones were analyzed for binding to the full length ectodomain of EGFR as well as a truncated version containing the first 525 amino acids (EGFR 525) of the EGFR ectodomain in single point direct binding assays.
  • Anti-His antibodies were used to capture protein clones in an oriented fashion followed by incubation with full length EGFR or EGFR 525 Fc fusion proteins.
  • Bound receptor-Fcs were detected via anti-human Fc HRP conjugate with a chromogenic readout (i.e. A450). Representative results (partial) from the screening are presented in Table 1 where the relative binding strengths of 24 clones to full length and truncated EGFRs are shown.
  • SGE Compared to the control (SGE), all clones demonstrate significant EGFR binding.
  • the SGE control is the 10 FN3 domain as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 with the integrin binding domain (RGD) substituted with amino acids SGE.
  • Table 1 Clone EGFR-FL-Fc A450 EGFR 525-Fc A450 SEQ ID NO: SGE 0.1434 0.1385 679A01 1.568 1.5285 207 679A05 1.428 1.7188 208 679A10 0.787 0.9251 209 679B01 0.213 0.5389 210 679B09 0.455 0.3754 211 679B10 1.376 1.7437 212 679C10 0.467 0.803 213 679F03 2.367 2.4468 214 679F09 2.416 2.4685 215 679G06 2.102 0.1282 216 867A01 1.4045 0.1369 217 867E02 1.4179 1.4313 218 867A03 2.2985 1.8519
  • the Cell-Based Competitive Ligand Binding Assay measures the ability of a test sample to bind to EGFR on the surface of human A431 cells and compete with the binding of the natural EGF ligand labeled with a europium tag (Eu-EGF). Competition of the test sample with Eu-EGF for binding to the EGFR's on the cell surface is measured by a decrease in fluorescent signal. Competetive binding of an anti-EGFR antibody (LA-1) is compared to the binding of two EGFR binding clones (679F03, 679F09 and 867A01) in Figures 2-4 .
  • Three libraries were constructed in which one loop at a time was replaced with random sequence.
  • the libraries were constructed at the DNA level as described in the Material and Methods section, except that random sequences in two out of three loops were replaced with fixed sequence corresponding to the clone being optimized.
  • the master library containing all 3 optimized loops was taken through cycles of amplification, synthesis of mRNA-protein fusions, and affinity selection.
  • EGFR-Fc was used at decreasing concentrations to select for the highest affinity binders. In round 1, the concentration of EGFR-Fc was 100 nM. In round 2, the concentration of EGFR-Fc was I nM. In rounds 3 and 4, the concentration of EGFR-Fc was 0.1nM.
  • Selected optimized clones are compared to a pre-optimized clone for their ability to bind to EGFs on the surface of human A431 cells and compete with the binding of the natural EGF ligand labeled with a europium tag (Eu-EGF). Following HTPP and quantitation, many clones may exhibit superior inhibition to the staring clone with IC 50 s in the low nM range.
  • Eu-EGF europium tag
  • DSC Differential Scanning Calorimetry
  • SEC Size-exclusion chromatography
  • MALLS Multi-Angle Laser Light Scattering
  • One liter E. coli growths of selected optimized clones are prepared and the proteins are purified.
  • Surface plasmon resonance (BIAcore) analysis is performed using recombinant, immobilized EGFR and solution-phase clones in order to determine binding kinetics and binding affinities.
  • E. coli growths of selected optimized clones are prepared and the proteins are purified.
  • the proteins are purified.
  • they are evaluated at high concentration against other HER family members or another unrelated receptor using BlAcore methodology.
  • the HER family members or another unrelated receptor are immobilized onto a BlAcore chip as is an irrelevant protein to control for non-specific binding. Clones are passed over the chip at 10 ⁇ M to look for non-specific binding or specificity.
  • the purified EGFR clones are evaluated in cell-based assays in order to confirm activity.
  • results from clone 679F09 (SEQ ID NO: 215) are described.
  • Clone 679F09 was screened for the ability to directly interfere with ligand-stimulated EGFR activation and downstream MAP kinase signaling.
  • Immunocytochemical assays (In Cell Westerns) were used to measure 1) total phosphorylation of the EGFR, 2) phosphorylation on tyrosine 1068 of the EGFR, a functionally important residue responsible for binding of cytosolic signaling proteins and 3) ERK phosphorylation, a component of the MAP kinase pathway that stimulates growth in response to EGFR activation. These assays were carried out in both A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells and FaDu head & neck carcinoma cells.
  • clone 679F09 blocked EGF-stimulated EGFR phosphorylation on tyrosine 1068 with an IC 50 of 1.32 ⁇ M and blocked EGF-stimulated ERK phosphorylation with an IC 50 of 2.8 ⁇ M.
  • clone 679F09 blocked EGF-stimulated total EGFR phosphorylation with an IC 50 of 2.4 ⁇ M, EGF-stimulated EGFR phosphorylation on tyrosine 1068 with an IC 50 of 2.88 ⁇ M and blocked EGF-stimulated ERK phosphorylation with an IC 50 of 3.1 ⁇ M.
  • ELISA assays to measure phosphorylation of AKT, total EGFR phosphorylation, EGFR phosphorylation on tyrosine 1068, and ERK phosphorylation were used to evaluate these same endpoints in DiFi colon carcinoma cells, as this line was not suitable for In Cell Western assays.
  • clone 679F09 blocked EGF-stimulated AKT phosphorylation with an IC 50 between 1.8 ⁇ M and 5.3 ⁇ M, blocked EGF-stimulated total EGFR phosphorylation with an IC 50 of 5.3 ⁇ M, blocked EGF-stimulated EGFR phosphorylation on tyrosine 1068 with an IC 50 of 1.49 ⁇ M, and blocked EGF-stimulated ERK phosphorylation with an IC 50 of greater than 4.4 ⁇ M.
  • An In Cell Western (ICW) assay was used to determine if EGFR clones could interfere with the binding of other EGFR antibodies to a known epitope on the EGFR extracellular domain.
  • a panel of antibodies was assembled with defined binding regions (Table 2).
  • EGFR clones were incubated with A431 cells, unbound protein was washed away and bound protein crosslinked to the receptor with BS3. Cells were fixed and probed with an antibody where the binding site is known. If the EGFR clone shares common epitopes with the antibody, binding of the clone to EGFR prevents or reduces binding by the antibody.
  • Table 2 depicts the results of the competition binding studies with EGFR binding clone 679F09, as well as anti-EGFR antibodies cetuximab and panitumumab. Table 2. Antibodies to the EGFR extracellular domain with defined binding determinants.
  • One of the commonly seen degradation processes for proteins during storage is the oxidation of methionine or other amino acid residues, such as tryptophan, tyrosine, or histidine. Optimization may be performed in order to select for clones which retain the desirable properties of biological activity and biophysical properties of the starting clone, but are substituted in undesirable methionine residue(s), if present, in the loops. The same approach is used when any tryptophan, tyrosine, histidine residues in the loops are identified as being prone to oxidative damage.
  • a direct binding assay is used to screen re-optimized derivatives for enhanced binding to EGFR. Clones that show binding in a single-point assay are analyzed further using a gradient of clone concentrations.
  • Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) of HTPP material for re-optimized EGFR competitive clones typically reveals monomeric behavior indicating that at higher protein concentration, optimized clones do not have a tendency to aggregate.
  • binding affinities may range from double-digit to triple digit pM for the clones.
  • One liter E. coli growths of selected FG loop optimized EGFR competitive clones is prepared and the proteins are purified. To ensure that the EGFR competitive clones are indeed specific for EGFR, they are evaluated at high concentration against other HER receptors or another unrelated receptor using Biacore methodology. Typically, the majority of clones will exhibit no detectable binding to other EGFR family members or other unrelated receptors at this high concentration illustrating that these clones are indeed specific to EGFR.
  • DSC Differential Scanning Calorimetry
  • Optimized clones are produced in an E. coli expression system with a C-tenninal cysteine substitution.
  • SEQ ID NO: 235 is linked to the N-terminus of a clone lacking cysteine residues.
  • the single sulfhydryl of the cysteine residue from SEQ ID NO: 235 is used to couple to PEG variants using standard maleimide chemistry to yield two different PEGylated forms.
  • Both a linear 20 kDa bifunctional PEG and a mono-functional branched 40 kDa PEG (NOF Corporation) are conjugated to clones.
  • the PEGylated protein forms are purified from unreacted protein and PEG by ion exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. Covalent linkage of the two PEG forms are verified by SDS-PAGE, mass spectrometry and analytical size exclusion chromatography coupled with multi-angle laser light scattering.
  • Biacore Surface plasmon resonance analysis is performed using recombinant, EGFR-Fc captured on anti-human antibody surface and solution-phase analyte (PEGylated clone) in order to determine binding kinetics and binding affinities of PEGylated variants.
  • Example 20 Evaluation of EGFR Binding Clones for antiproliferative activity in an EGFR-dependent cell line
  • Clones were evaluated for antiproliferative activity in the DiFi colon carcinoma cell line, which depends on EGFR signaling for growth.
  • a primary screen was carried out at 10 ⁇ M and I ⁇ M in duplicate to identify active clones.
  • An active clone demonstrated greater than 50% inhibition at either concentration and preferably exhibited a dose response.
  • Active clones were followed up with IC 50 determinations by testing serial dilutions at eight concentrations in triplicate.
  • the main assay method measured incorporation of 3 H-thymidine into newly synthesized DNA, but a metabolic detection assay was occasionally used as well that measured conversion of a water soluble tetrazolium salt to a colored byproduct. Standard compounds were included in each experiment to verify assay performance and reproducibility.
  • clone 679F09 mildly inhibited proliferation in one experiment, yet failed to inhibit proliferation in two separate experiments.
  • Bispecific molecules directed to both EGFR and IGF-1R are created by linking together fibronectin based scaffold domain clones specific to each target using a bifunctional PEG molecule.
  • a cysteine residue is substituted at the C-terminus of each clone so that the bifunctional PEG can link the two clones through maleimide chemistry.
  • the IGF-IR binding clone represented in SEQ ID NO: 203 and the EGFR binding clone represented in SEQ ID NO: 231 are utilized.
  • One of two approaches is used to generate the appropriate bispecific molecule.
  • Equimolar mixtures of the EGFR clone, the IGF-IR clone, and maleimide-PEG-X-kDa-maleimide are mixed for the appropriate period of time and the products are separated by ion-exchange chromatography under pH conditions optimum for the separation of the two isolated clones based upon differences in pI.
  • the theoretical products and their ratios from this separation are 1 part homospecific EGFR, 1 part homospecific IGF-IR, and 2 parts bispecific EGFR/IGF-IR.
  • a second approach is predicated upon the sequential addition of species to PEG-linker.
  • An excess of linker for example a 10-fold excess, is added to the one of the species and the reaction allowed to proceed to completion.
  • the PEGylated mono-species is recovered from PEG-linked homodimer and unreacted PEG-linker by ion-exchange chromatography.
  • the isolated PEGylated mono-species is then reacted with an equimolar quantity of the other clone species to create the bispecific molecule.
  • Bispecific molecules directed to both EGFR and VEGFR2 are created by linking together fibronectin based scaffold domain clones specific to each target using a bifunctional PEG molecule.
  • a cysteine residue is substituted at the C-terminus of each clone so that the bifunctional PEG can link the two clones through maleimide chemistry.
  • the VEGFR2 binding clone represented in SEQ ID NO: 128 and the EGFR binding clone represented in SEQ ID NO: 231 are utilized.
  • One of two approaches is used to generate the appropriate bispecific molecule. Equimolar mixtures of the EGFR clone, the VEGFR2 clone, and maleimide-PEG-X-kDa-maleimide are mixed for the appropriate period of time and the products are separated by ion-exchange chromatography under pH conditions optimum for the separation of the two isolated clones based upon differences in pI.
  • the theoretical products and their ratios from this separation are 1 part homospecific EGFR, I part homospecific VEGFR2, and 2 parts bispecific EGFR/VEGFR2.
  • a second approach is predicated upon the sequential addition of species to PEG-linker.
  • An excess of linker for example a 10-fold excess, is added to the one of the species and the reaction allowed to proceed to completion.
  • the PEGylated mono-species is recovered from PEG-linked homodimer and unreacted PEG-linker by ion-exchange chromatography.
  • the isolated PEGylated mono-species is then reacted with an equimolar quantity of the other clone species to create the bispecific molecule.
  • Bidomain molecules directed to EGFR are created by linking together fibronectin based scaffold domain clones specific to EGFR using a bifunctional PEG molecule. A cysteine residue is substituted at the C-terminus of each clone so that the bifunctional PEG can link the two clones through maleimide chemistry.
  • the EGFR binding clone represented in SEQ ID NO: 231 is utilized.
  • a 2:1 ration of the EGFR clone and maleimide-PEG-7C-kDa-maleimide are mixed for the appropriate period of time and the products are separated by ion-exchange chromatography.
  • the theoretical products and their ratios from this separation are 2 parts homospecific EGFR and 2 parts EGFR/EGFR..
  • Bispecific molecules directed to both EGFR and IGF-IR are created by connecting the two clones via a polypeptide linker.
  • the orientation of the two clones with regards to the N-terminal clone versus the C-terminal clone is arbitrary, but in the present example, the EGFR clone is in the N-terminal position.
  • the EGFR binding clone represented in SEQ ID NO: 215 and the IGF-IR binding clone represented in SEQ ID NO: 236 are utilized.
  • DNA construct in the present example is EGFR binding clone-polypeptide linker-IGFR binding clone. This is expressed in E.coli and purified per usual either from inclusion bodies or from the soluble fraction.
  • Bispecific molecules directed to both EGFR and VEGFR2 are created by connecting the two clones via a polypeptide linker.
  • the orientation of the two clones with regards to the N-terminal clone versus the C-terminal clone is arbitrary, but in the present example, the EGFR clone is in the N-terminal position.
  • the EGFR binding clone represented in SEQ ID NO: 215 and the VEGFR2 binding clone represented in SEQ ID NO: 129 are utilized.
  • DNA construct in the present example is EGFR binding clone-polypeptide linker-VEGFR binding clone. This is expressed in E.coli and purified per usual either from inclusion bodies or from the soluble fraction.
  • Bisdomain molecules directed to EGFR are created by connecting the two clones via a polypeptide linker.
  • the EGFR binding clone represented in SEQ ID NO: 215 is utilized.
  • the DNA construct in the present example is EGFR binding clone-polypeptide linker-EGFR binding clone. This is expressed in E.coli and purified per usual either from inclusion bodies or from the soluble fraction.
  • EGFR-Fc (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN) consisting of the ectodomain of human EGFR as a Fc fusion was purchased and shown to be functional for EGF binding by Biacore.
  • the first 525 amino acids of the human EGFR extracellular domain was cloned into a mammalian expression vector containing the hinge and constant regions of human IgG1.
  • Transient transfection of the plasmid produced a fusion protein, EGFR 525-Fc, which was subsequently purified by Protein A chromatography. This protein was shown to be capable of binding EGF using a similar Biacore assay as was done for the full length ectodomain fusion.
  • FnBC 5'-AGC CTG CTG ATC AGC TGG X X X X X X CGA TAT TAC CGC ATC ACT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 241) to construct a BC loop using trimer phosphoramidites
  • FnDE 5'-CAG GAG TTC ACT GTG CCT X X X X ACA GCT ACC ATC AGC GGC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 244) to construct a DE loop using trimer phosphoramidites
  • FnFG6 5'-ACT GTG TAT GCT GTC ACT NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS CCA ATT TCC ATT AAT TAC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 246) to give an FG loop with 6 random amino acids.
  • FnFG6 (trimer): 5'-ACT GTG TAT GCT GTC ACT X X X X X CCA ATT TCC ATT AAT TAC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 247) to give an FG loop with 6 random amino acids using trimer phosphoramidites.
  • FnFG8 5'-ACT GTG TAT GCT GTC ACT NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS CCA ATT TCC ATT AAT TAC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 248) to give an FG loop with 8 random amino acids.
  • FnFG8 (trimer): 5'-ACT GTG TAT GCT GTC ACT XXXXXXX CCA ATT TCC ATT AAT TAC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 249) to give an FG loop with 8 random amino acids using trimer phosphoramidites
  • FnFG10 5'-ACT GTG TAT GCT GTC ACT NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS CCA ATT TCC ATT AAT TAC-3'(SEQ ID NO: 250) to give an FG loop with 10 random amino acids.
  • FnFG10 5'-ACT GTG TAT GCT GTC ACT X X X X X X X X CCA ATT TCC ATT AAT TAC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 251) to give an FG loop with 10 random amino acids using trimer phosphoramidites.
  • FnFG12 5'-ACT GTG TAT GCT GTC ACT NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS CCA ATT TCC ATT AAT TAC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 252) to give an FG loop with 12 random amino acids.
  • FnFG14 5'-ACT GTG TAT GCT GTC ACT NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNS NNSCCA ATT TCC ATT AAT TAC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 253) to give an FG loop with 14 random amino acids.
  • FnB 5'-AGC CTG CTG ATC AGC TGG -3' (SEQ ID NO: 260)
  • FnD 5'-CAG GAG TTC ACT GTG CCT -3' (SEQ ID NO: 261)
  • FnF 5'-ACT GTG TAT GCT GTC ACT -3' (SEQ ID NO: 262)
  • a diverse library was constructed by extension of the overlapping synthetic oligonucleotides listed above, using KOD polymerase (EMD Biosciences, San Diego, CA).
  • KOD polymerase EMD Biosciences, San Diego, CA.
  • N indicates a mixture of A, C, G and T
  • V indicates a mixture of A, C and G
  • H indicates a mixture of A, C and T
  • S indicates a mixture of C and G.
  • Loop definitions are identical to those described previously (Xu et al, 2002).
  • the BC loop was constructed by extension of 50 pmol FnBC with 100 pmol FnCD in a 100 ⁇ l KOD reaction that was supplemented with I M Betaine and 3% DMSO.
  • the reaction was taken through 10 temperature cycles of 30s at 94 °C, 30s at 52 °C and 1 min at 68 °C to ensure complete extension of the fragments.
  • the DE and FG loops were constructed in a similar manner, using 200 pmol FnDE with 100 pmol FnEF for the DE loop and 100 pmol FnFG10 with 200 pmol FnG for the FG loop.
  • the DE and FG loops were combined and extended together for an additional 10 temperature cycles of 30s at 94 °C, 30s at 52 °C and 1 min at 68 °C.
  • the BC loop was extended with 100 pmol FnAB in the same manner.
  • the DE/FG mixture and the BC loop were each diluted 10-fold with fresh KOD reagents and extended with FLAG and T7TMV respectively, for 10 temperature cycles 30s at 94 °C, 30s at 52 °C and 1 min at 68 °C. Finally the fragments were combined and extended together for 10 temperature cycles of 30s at 94 °C, 30s at 52 °C and I min at 68 °C.
  • Additional libraries were constructed with different FG loop lengths by using oligonucleotides FnFG6, FnFG8, FnFG12 or FnFG 14 instead of FnFG10. The libraries containing FG loop lengths between 6 and 14 amino acids were combined to give the "NNS" library.
  • NASH and WFC libraries were made using the same method, except that oligonucleotides FnBC, FnDE and FnFG were replaced with FnBC (trimer), FnDE (trimer) and FnFG (trimer) respectively.
  • X denotes a mixture of trimer phosphoramidites (Glen Research, Sterling, VA) that encode 13 amino acids for the "NVH” library (Lys, Asn, Thr, Gln, His, Pro, Arg, Glu, Asp, Ala, Gly, Tyr, Ser) or 17 amino acids for the "-WFC” library (Lys, Asn, Thr, Gln, His, Pro, Arg, Glu, Asp, Ala, Gly, Tyr, Ser, Leu, Ile, Met, Val).
  • Double-stranded DNA libraries were converted into RNA-protein fusions (PROfusionTM) essentially as described (Xu et al, 2002, Kurz et al, Nuc. Acid Res. 28:83, 2000 ). Briefly, the DNA library was transcribed using an in vitro transcription kit (MEGAscriptTM, Ambion, Austin, Tex) and the resulting RNA was desalted by size exclusion chromatography on a NAP-5 column (GE Healthcare).
  • MEGAscriptTM in vitro transcription kit
  • the mRNA-puromycin molecules were then translated in 3ml rabbit reticulocyte lysate (Ambion, Austin, Tex).
  • the resulting mRNA-protein fusions were purified using oligo dT cellulose (GE Healthcare) and reverse-transcribed using 2 nmol of the primer FLAG and superscript II reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturers instructions.
  • the cDNA/mRNA-protein fusions were purified by M2 Flag agarose (Sigma, St Louis, MO) and quantitated by PCR. This gave a purified library of approximately 10 12 full length clones that were amplified by PCR using primers T7TMV and FLAG for use in subsequent PROfusion TM experiments.
  • Human IgG (Sigma) was coated on protein G-coated magnetic beads (Invitrogen) to produce a negative selection matrix.
  • the RNA-ptotein fusion library was mixed with the negative selection matrix to remove clones that bind to protein G or the Fc region of the target.
  • the beads were separated on a magnet and the unbound fraction was collected and added to 100nM EGFR-Fc in PBS with 0.05% Tween 20 and 1mg/ml BSA (Ambion). After 30 min, the bound proteins were captured on Protein G-coated magnetic beads and were washed 6 times using a Kingfisher magnetic particle processor (Thermo Electron, Waltham, MA).
  • the cDNA was eluted in 100 mM KOH, was neutralized with 100 mM Tris-HCl, and was amplified by PCR to generate a second-generation library enriched in molecules that bound EGFR.
  • the consecutive processes of amplification, synthesis of RNA-protein fusions, and affinity selection were carried out a total of 5 times and the bound molecules were quantitated by PCR.
  • the binding populations obtained after rounds 4 and 5 were amplified and ligated by recombination (InFusion TM , Clontech, Mountain View, CA) into an E. coli expression vector containing a promoter for T7 RNA polymerase and an in-frame His 6 tag.
  • the ligated mixture was transformed into E. coli strain BL21 (DE3) pLysS (Invitrogen) that expresses T7 RNA polymerase upon induction with IPTG, thereby giving inducible protein expression.
  • Three libraries were constructed in which single loops were replaced with random sequence.
  • the libraries were constructed at the DNA level by overlap extension with KOD polymerase as described above, except that random sequences in two out of three loops were replaced with fixed sequence corresponding to clone 679F09.
  • the fixed sequences were provided in the BC loop by oligonucleotide 679F09BC, and in the DE loop by oligonucleotide 679F09DE, and in the FG loop by oligonucleotide 679F09FG. These replaced the corresponding random oligonucleotides FnBC, FnDE, or FnFG10 during library construction.
  • Randomization of position XX necessitated the use of primer FnCD' in place of FnCD, and FnBC8 in place of FnBC.
  • the use of "NVH" codons removed hydrophobic amino acids from the library.
  • the library in which the BC loop from clone 679F09 was replaced by random amino acids was made by assembling the oligonucleotides: T7TMV + FnAB + FnBC8 + FnCD' + 679F09DE + FnEF + 679F09FG + FnG + FLAG as described above.
  • the library in which the DE loop from clone 679F09 was replaced by random amino acids was made by assembling the oligonucleotides: T7TMV + FnAB + 679F09BC + FnCD' + FnDE (trimer) + FnEF + 679F09FG + FnG + FLAG.
  • the library in which the FG loop from clone 679F09 was replaced by random amino acids was assembled from the oligonucleotides: T7TMV + FnAB + 669F09BC + FnCD' + 679F09 + FnEF + FnFG 10 (trimer) + FnG + FLAG.
  • the three single-loop libraries derived from clone 679F09 were subjected to PROfusion TM selection as described above.
  • the surviving clones in each library contained 2 loops from the parent clone and 1 loop from the random sequence that was compatible with binding of each clone.
  • the three random loops, one from each library, were amplified using oligonucleotide primers that bound the surrounding scaffold regions.
  • the BC loop was amplified from the library containing the variable BC loop using oligonucleotide primers FnB and FnCD'.
  • the DE loop was amplified from the library containing the variable DE loop using oligonucleotide primers FnD and FnEF.
  • the FG loop was amplified from the library containing the variable FG loop using oligonucleotide primers FnF and FnG.
  • the three excised loops were purified by agarose gel electrophoresis, mixed in equal proportions and amplified by KOD polymerase with primers FnAB and FnG followed by T7TMV and FLAG.
  • the 3-loop randomized library was taken through cycles of amplification, synthesis of RNA-protein fusions, and affinity selections as described above.
  • EGFR-Fc was used at decreasing concentrations to select for the highest affinity binders. After 4 rounds, the resulting protein populations were cloned into E. coli for analysis as described above.
  • the protein populations resulting from the above selections are expressed in E. coli as His6 tagged proteins.
  • the direct binding ELISA relies on the oriented capture of His6 tagged clones onto anti-His monoclonal antibody plates (EMD Biosciences, San Diego, CA) blocked with casein block buffer (Pierce, Rockford, IL) for 1-2 hrs.
  • casein block buffer Pierce, Rockford, IL
  • a 1:50 dilution of HTPP material (0.2-2 ug) is captured for 1hr, followed by incubation with 50 nM of the EGFR-Fc targets.
  • Bound EGFR-Fcs are detected by incubation with anti-human HRP.
  • Bound HRP conjugate is detected using the colorimetric substrate TMB (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA) following the manufacturer's instructions.
  • the clones resulting from the above selections are assayed in the Cell-Based Competitive Ligand Binding Assay to determine if the clones are competitive with EGF, the natural ligand, for binding to the EGFR located on the surface of cells.
  • EGF the natural ligand
  • Human epithelial carcinoma cells, clone A431, which express large numbers of EGFRs on the cell surface, are plated into 96 well tissue culture plates and allowed to adhere for 48 hours. The cells are washed with serum free media and dilutions of the selected clones are incubated with the cells for 15 minutes, 37°C in a humidified incubator in 5% CO 2 . This incubation allows binding of the clone to the EGFR on the cell surface.
  • EGF Europium labeled EGF
  • EGF EGF
  • Enhancement Solution Perkin Elmer
  • This step dissociates the europium label from the EGF ligand producing a fluorescent signal which is measured by time resolved fluorescence. The intensity of the signal is correlated with the amount of Eu-EGF bound to the cell's surfaces. A dose response decrease in signal intensity indicates that a given clone competes with the europium labeled natural EGF ligand for binding to the EGFR.
  • HTPP High Throughput Protein Production
  • pLysS cells Selected binders cloned into pDEST-14 vector and transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) pLysS cells are inoculated in 5ml LB medium containing 50 ⁇ g/mL carbenicillin and 34 ⁇ g/mL chloromphenicol in a 24-well format and grown at 37 °C overnight.
  • Fresh 5ml LB medium (50 ⁇ g/mL carbenicillin and 34 ⁇ g/mL chloromphenicol) cultures are prepared for inducible expression by aspirating 200 ⁇ l from the overnight culture and dispensing it into the appropriate well. The cultures are grown at 37 °C until A 600 0.6-1.0.
  • IPTG isopropyl- ⁇ -thiogalactoside
  • Cell pellets (in 24-well format) are lysed by resuspension in 450 ⁇ l of Lysis buffer (50mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 0.5 M NaCl, 1x Complete TM Protease Inhibitor Cocktail-EDTA free (Roche), 1 mM PMSF, 10 mM CHAPS, 40mM Imidazole, 1mg/ml lysozyme, 30ug/ml DNAse, 2ug/ml aprotonin, pH 8.0) and shaken at room temperature for I hour.
  • Lysis buffer 50mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 0.5 M NaCl, 1x Complete TM Protease Inhibitor Cocktail-EDTA free (Roche), 1 mM PMSF, 10 mM CHAPS, 40mM Imidazole, 1mg/ml lysozyme, 30ug/ml DNAse, 2ug/ml aprotonin, pH 8.0
  • Lysates are clarified and re-racked into a 96-well format by transfer into a 96-well Whatman GF/D Unifilter fitted with a 96-well, 650 ⁇ l catch plate and are centrifuged for 5 minutes at 200g.
  • the clarified lysates are transferred to a 96-well Ni-Chelating Plate that has been equilibrated with equilibration buffer (50mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 0.5 M NaCl, 10 mM CHAPS, 40mM Imidazole, pH 8.0) and is incubated for 5min. Unbound material is removed by vacuum.
  • equilibration buffer 50mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 0.5 M NaCl, 10 mM CHAPS, 40mM Imidazole, pH 8.0
  • the resin is washed 2 x 0.3 ml/well with Wash buffer #1 (50 mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 0.5 M NaCl,5 mM CHAPS, 40mM Imidazole, pH 8.0) with each wash removed by vacuum.
  • Wash buffer #1 50 mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 0.5 M NaCl,5 mM CHAPS, 40mM Imidazole, pH 8.0
  • the resin is washed with 3 x 0.3 ml/well with PBS with each wash step removed by vacuum.
  • PBS + 20mM EDTA 50 ⁇ l Elution buffer
  • Protein is eluted by applying an additional 100ul of Elution buffer to each well.
  • the plate(s) are centrifuged for 5 minutes at 200 g and eluted protein is collected in 96-well catch plates containing 5 ⁇ l of 0.5M MgCl 2 affiexed to the bottom of the Ni-plates. Eluted protein is quantified using a BCA assay with lysozyme as the protein standard.
  • E. coli BL21 E. coli BL21 (DE3) pLysS cells.
  • Twenty ml of an inoculum culture (generated from a single plated colony) is used to inoculate 1 liter of LB medium containing 50 ⁇ g/mL carbenicillin and 34 ⁇ g/mL chloromphenicol. The culture is grown at 37 °C until A 600 0.6-1.0.
  • IPTG isopropyl- ⁇ -thiogalactoside
  • Cell lysis is achieved by high pressure homongenization ( ⁇ 18,000psi) using a Model M-110S Microfluidizer (Microfluidics).
  • the soluble fraction is separated by centrifugation for 30 minutes at 23,300 g at 4°C.
  • the supernatant is clarified via 0.45 ⁇ m filter.
  • the clarified lysate is loaded onto a HisTrap column (GE) pre-equilibrated with 20 mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 0.5 M NaCl, pH 7.4.
  • the column is then washed with 25 column volumes of 20 mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 0.5 M NaCl, pH 7.4, followed by 20 column volumes of 20 mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 0.5 M NaCl, 25mM imidazole pH 7.4, and then 35column volumes of 20 mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 0.5 M NaCl, 40mM imidazole pH 7.4.
  • Protein is eluted with 15 column volumes of column volumes of 20 mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 0.5 M NaCl, 500mM imidazole pH 7.4, fractions are pooled based on absorbance at A 280 and are dialyzed against 1x PBS, 50mM Tris, 150mM NaCl, pH 8.5 or 50 mM NaOAc; 150mM NaCl; pH4.5. Any precipitate is removed by filtering at 0.22 ⁇ m.
  • the EGFR binding clone-PEG40 molecule is prepared by using a 2-fold excess of PEG-40-kDa (NOF Corporation) to the C-version of the clone via maleimide chemistry. The reaction is allowed to proceed at room temperature for 2.5 hours. Free PEG-40 is separated from clone-PEG-40 by Cation Exchange Chromatography (SP-HiTrap; GE). The reaction mixture is diluted 1:10 with 20mM NaH 2 PO 4 , pH 6.7 and is applied to an SP-HiTrap column pre-equilibrated with Equilibration buffer (20mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 10mM NaCl, pH 6.7), washed with Equilbration buffer and is eluted using 20mM NaH 2 PO 4 . 0.5M NaCl, pH 6.7. Eluted fractions are pooled based on SDS-PAGE anlaysis. The SP-pooled eluate is buffer exchanged via G25 Chromatography (GE) into PBS.
  • GE G25
  • the PEG20-EGFR binding clone-PEG20 is prepared by using a 2-fold excess of purified clone-C to PEG-20-kDa (NOF Corporation) via maleimide chemistry. The reaction is carried out at room temperature for 1 hour. Unpegylated protein is separated from the PEG20-clone-PEG20 by SEC Chromatography (Superose 6; GE) in 20mM NaH 2 PO 4 . 10mM NaCl, pH 6.7 buffer. The fractions containing the PEG20-clone-PEG20 are pooled and are further purified to removed mono-pegylated clone. This is achieved by cation exchange chromatography (SP; GE).
  • a SP-HiTrap column is pre-equilibrated with Buffer A (20mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 10mM NaCl, pH 6.7), the SEC eluate is applied, the column is then washed with buffer A, and then a gradient from 0-10% buffer B (20mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 1.0M NaCl, pH 6.7) over 5 column volumes and held for an additional 5 column volumes is run.
  • Buffer A 20mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 10mM NaCl, pH 6.7
  • PEG20- clone-PEG20 is eluted from the SP-column by eluting with 50% Buffer B. Fractions are pooled by A280 and buffer exchanged into PBS by G25 Chromatography (GE).
  • the binding kinetics of fibronectin-based scaffold proteins binding proteins to the target is measured using Biacore 3000 or T100 biosensors (GE Healthcare, Piscataway, NJ).
  • Anti-human antibody GE Healthcare, Piscataway, NJ
  • Flow cells 1 and 2 Fc1 and Fc2
  • the kinetic analysis involves the capture of EGFR-Fc (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN) or the in-house generated truncated EGFR 525-Fc on anti-human IgG on Fc2 followed by injection of the clone in solution on Fc1 and Fc2.
  • the anti-human antibody surface is regenerated by 2 successive injections of 3M MgCl 2 .
  • Sensorgrams are obtained at each concentration and are evaluated using the manufacturer's program Biaevaluation or Biacore T100 software, to determine the rate constants k a (k on ) and k d (k off )
  • the dissociation constant, K D is calculated from the ratio of rate constants k off /k on .
  • a concentration series (0 ⁇ M to 2 ⁇ M) of purified clone diluted in the running buffer HBS-EP (10 mM Hepes 150 mM NaCl 3 mM EDTA 0.05% Surfactant P20) is evaluated for binding to anti-human IgG captured human EGFR-Fc fusion protein.
  • recombinant ectodomain-Fc fusions are captured using anti-human IgG antibody as described above.
  • Specific binding to either human EGFR, or other related family members such as HER2 or HER3 is calculated by subtracting the binding observed to the blank reference flow cell 1.
  • VEGFR2-Fc a non-related receptor, serves as an additional non-specific binding reference.
  • EGFR binding clones are diluted to 10 ⁇ M in HBS-EP (10 mM Hepes 150 mM NaCl 3 mM EDTA 0.05% Surfactant P20) and are injected at 20 uL/min for 5 minutes over the flow cells at 25C and dissociation is observed over 10 mins.
  • DSC Differential Scanning Calorimetry analysis of midscaled clones is performed to determine thermal stability.
  • a 1mg/ml solution of appropriate clone is scanned in a N-DSC II calorimeter (Calorimetry Sciences Corp) by ramping the temperature from 5°C to 95°C at a rate of 1 degree per minute under 3 atm pressure.
  • the data is analyzed vs. a control run of the appropriate buffer using a best fit using Orgin Software (OrginLab Corp).
  • a buffer of 100 mM sodium sulfate, 100 mM sodium phosphate, 150 mM sodium chloride, pH 6.8 at a flow rate of 100 ⁇ L/min is employed. Samples (0.1 to 1 ⁇ g each) at a concentration of approximately 100 ⁇ g/mL are injected separately. Gel filtration standards (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA) are used for molecular weight calibration.
  • Size Exclusion Chromatography is performed on a Waters Breeze HPLC system equipped with a Waters 2487 UV detector using a Superdex 200 column (GE Healthcare) with a mobile phase of 100mM Sodium Sulfate, 100mM Sodium Phosphate, 150mM Sodium Chloride pH 6.8 applied at a flow rate of 0.6 ml/min. Samples are diluted to approximately 1.0 mg/ml with mobile phase and 50 ⁇ l is injected. Multi-Angle Laser Light Scattering (MALLS) analysis is performed using a miniDAWN Light Scattering detector (Wyatt Technology Corporation) and Optilab DSP Differential Refractometer (Wyatt Technology Corporation) plumbed in-line after the UV detector.
  • MALLS Multi-Angle Laser Light Scattering
  • EGFR binding clones are analyzed by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometery (FIG. 14) using a Voyager DE PRO mass spectrometer (Applied Biosystems). Samples are diluted to approximately 1.0 mg/ml with 0.1% TFA. Approximately 12 ⁇ l of sample is loaded onto a C4 ZipTip (Millipore Corporation) and is washed with 0.1% Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA) to remove salts and contaminants. Sample is eluted directly from the ZipTip onto the target plate using 2 ⁇ l of Sinapinic Acid matrix (10mg/ml in 70% Acetonitrile, 0.1% TFA).
  • TFA Trifluoroacetic Acid
  • Standardization of the instrument is performed using two proteins of known mass: Cytochrome C (12361.96 Da) and Apomyoglobin (16952.27 Da) prepared to a final concentration of 5 ⁇ M in Sinapinic Acid and spotted onto the plate.
  • Spectra are acquired with the following instrument settings: Accelerating Voltage 25000V, Grid Voltage 91 %, Guide Wire 0.1%, Extraction Delay Time 400 nsec, Laser Intensity 3824.
  • Raw spectra are processed in Data Explorer v. 4.5 (Applied Biosystems) by applying baseline correction and the Gaussian Smooth algorithm with a filter width value of 9.
  • Cells were seeded into poly-D-lysine coated microtiter plates (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ) at 24,000 cells/well for A431 epidermoid carcinoma or FaDu head & neck carcinoma cells and allowed to adhere overnight. Cells were washed and then incubated for 24 hours in serum free media. Serial dilutions of clones were then applied to the cells and incubated for 4 hours prior to stimulation with 100ng/ml EGF for 10 minutes. Following stimulation, cells were fixed for 20 minutes in PBS containing 3.7% formaldehyde and then permeabilized in PBS containing 0.1 % triton-X-100 for 15 minutes.
  • EGFR phosphorylated on tyrosine 1068 Cell Signaling, Beverly, MA
  • actin Sigma, St. Louis, MO
  • ERK MAP kinase phosphorylated on tyrosine 202/threonine 204 and total ERK (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA).
  • secondary antibodies were added (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA or Rockland, Gilbertsville, PA).
  • the plate was washed once in PBS+0.1% tween-20 and fixed for 20 minutes in PBS+3.7% formaldehyde.
  • the plate was blocked in Odyssey blocker for 1 hour at room temp. Blocking solution was removed and various primary antibodies diluted 1:100 or 1:50 in Odyssey blocker were added to the plate and incubated for 1 hour at room temp.
  • the plate was washed three times and secondary antibodies diluted 1:800 in Odyssey blocker+0.2% Tween-20 along with TOPRO3 counterstain 1:3000 were added to the plate and incubated for 1 hour at room temp.
  • the plate was washed three times and imaged on a Li-Cor Odyssey infrared imaging system at 160uM resolution.
  • EGF-stimulated EGFR phosphorylation was determined by plating 1X10 5 DiFi cells in each well of a microtiter plate and allowing them to adhere overnight. The next day, media was replaced with serum free media and cells were starved for 16 hours. EGFR binding clones or control antibodies were incubated with cells at 37°C for 4 hours.
  • Cells were then stimulated with 20 ng/ml of EGF for 10 minutes and cell lysates were prepared in HNTG [50 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, 0.5% triton-X-100, 8% glycerol, 2 mM Na 3 PO 4 , 1.5 mM MgCl 2 , 1mM EDTA containing the protease inhibitors AEBSF, aprotinin, leupeptin, bestatin, pepstatin-A and E64]. Lysates were transferred to a capture plate coated with a primary antibody specific for the human extracellular domain of the EGF receptor (Cell Signaling, Beverly, MA).
  • the detection antibody was replaced with a mouse monoclonal antiphosphotyrosine antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (4G10, Upstate Biotechnology, Lake Placid, NY).
  • the chromogenic substrate, tetramethylbenzidine was used to measure the absorbance on a spectrophotometer at 450 nm. Samples were tested in triplicate and IC 50 values were determined by subtracting background and calculating percent inhibition of total maximum signal in each assay.
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US20180244755A1 (en) 2018-08-30
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US10781247B2 (en) 2020-09-22
US9234028B2 (en) 2016-01-12
AU2009213141A1 (en) 2009-08-20
US20110053842A1 (en) 2011-03-03
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JP2011517314A (ja) 2011-06-02
US9920108B2 (en) 2018-03-20
WO2009102421A3 (en) 2010-01-21
US20140038893A1 (en) 2014-02-06
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US8524244B2 (en) 2013-09-03
US20160152688A1 (en) 2016-06-02

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